FEB 22 Clayton Pioneer 2013 by Pioneer Publishers

IT’S YOUR PAPER www.claytonpioneer.com

February 22, 2013

925.672.0500

Camellia Tea is still a family affair for longtime Clayton residents TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer

JULIE PIERCE

MAYOR’S CORNER

City to work with fire district on safety Thanks to all of the community members who attended the Fire Station 11 closure City Council ad-hoc committee meeting on Feb. 4. Councilmember Jim Diaz and I attended the Fire District Board meeting in Martinez on Tuesday, Feb. 12, to convey our community’s concern over the closure of Station 11 and our desire to be involved in any solutions that the district may consider for covering Clayton during the closure. Jim strongly conveyed the need for real answers to the questions raised in our previous meetings. I emphasized the need for district-wide discussions including all of the elected representatives of cities in the district. While the fire district is a special district over which we have no authority, their decisions directly impact all of our citizens and we must be included in their discussion on an advisory basis at a minimum. The Board endorsed the idea and directed the Fire Chief to initiate those meetings, which will also include all Contra Costa Fire Districts and the public. I’ll keep you posted on when those meetings will take place.

See Mayor, page 13

Sex abuse victim files suit against MDUSD TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer

The victim of a Diablo View Middle School teacher sent to prison last year for sexually abusing her when she was a minor has filed a lawsuit against the Mt. Diablo Unified School District, DVMS principal Patti Bannister and convicted abuser, Andrew Bruce Cottrell. According to court documents, Cottrell began “flirting” with “Jane Doe” as she is known in the lawsuit, when she was a student in his eighth grade science class. The flirting progressed to sexual activity when she was 14 and a freshman in high school and continued for about 18 months. She finally told her parents who notified police and Cottrell was arrested.

See MDUSD suit, page 5

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

MANY FAMILY MEMBERS OF CLAYTON’S EARLY SETTLERS GATHERED AT THE MUSEUM Feb. 10 for the Historical Society’s annual Camellia Tea. On hand to pour were Charles Calhan, great-grandson of Joel Clayton, his daughters Ellen Culp and Diane Hoffman (standing) and their cousin Julie Clark (seated).

The Clayton Museum opened its doors last week for the 36th Annual Camellia Tea, an event honoring the descendents of Clayton’s settlers and pioneering families. The little house on Main Street, which was once the home of Joel Clayton, was elbow to elbow with nearly 100 visitors on Sunday, Feb. 10. Tables in the back parlor were laden with home baked pastries and cookies. Every available surface was adorned with the seasonal camellias that give the event its name. Tea and coffee were poured from silver pots into antique china cups. The docents and volunteers all sported colorful hats from the museum’s extensive collection. Several descendents of Joel Clayton were on hand to help pour tea, including his great grandson, 93-year-old Charles Calhan, Calhan’s two daughters Ellen Culp and Diane Hoffman and their cousin Julie Clark.

See Tea, page 4

Pet project is reaping great rewards for Clayton native Dogs 4 Diabetics founder Ruefenacht honored with Jefferson Award PEGGY SPEAR Clayton Pioneer

Mark Ruefenacht doesn’t mind sloppy wet kisses from his dog. In fact, they can help save his life. Ruefenacht suffers from Type 1 diabetes, and his dog, Danielle, is trained to recognize when his blood sugar fluctuates. She alerts him by kissing him in the way dogs do best. The Clayton native has helped train Danielle, and more than 100 other canine companions, for Dogs 4 Diabetics, an organization he started more than a decade ago. It’s been so successful that in January Ruefenacht was honored with the prestigious Jefferson Award, to recognize individuals who promote volunteerism and community service. “I was so honored to get the award because of its commitment to volunteerism,” he says. “That’s what D4D is founded on.” Ruefenacht grew up with that commitment himself. Along with his parents, Les and Sandra Ruefenacht, he became interested in working with

Guide Dogs for the Blind when he was still a child. An aunt suffered vision impairment because of diabetes and Ruefenacht loved the idea of helping dogs help others. It became much more personal for him later in life, during a business trip to New York. Traveling with Benton, a guide dog puppy-in-training, Ruefenacht had a severe hypoglycemic episode, and was almost unconscious. Benton, sensing a problem, aggressively aroused him from an incoherent state, allowing him time to recognize the problem and treat it before more harm was done. The experience planted the seed, and Ruefenacht began doing research – aided by Kaiser – into how dogs could use their phenomenal sense of smell to detect and alert on hypoglycemic episodes in diabetics. Ruefenacht was able to couple his professional experience in forensic science with years of experience with guide dogs for the Blind of San Rafael to develop the procedures now used to train dogs in this unique scentdetection effort. D4D was officially launched in 2004, and is the premier one of its kind in the world. These days, in a quiet training facility off of Willow Pass Road in north Concord, staff and a small army of volunteers conduct training for both dogs

What’s Inside Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Car Tuned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Community Calendar . . . . .14

and their “people” – diabetics who will be assigned a companion. The wait list is long, and D4D has placed teams throughout the West Coast and in Washington D.C. The dogs are trained to detect the scent, then use different methods to alert the human of a hypoglycemic episode. Some dogs learn to rub a taglike flag attached to their collar

as an alert; others will nuzzle and lick. It really doesn’t matter how they do their job, Reufenacht says – just that they do it. In March Ruefenacht is headed to Europe on a volunteer vacation as an ambassador for Assistance Dogs International. There he will visit other assistance dog schools and guide dog schools to share information and some highlights about

D4D and the Guide Dogs for the Blind puppy raising programs. It’s the latest in his newfound fame since winning the Jefferson Award; in the past weeks, he says, more than 35 assistance dog schools from all over the world have contacted him asking for

Dogs4Diabetes, page 13

Photo: yellowneenerphotography.com

DIABETICS FOUNDER MARK RUEFENACHT gets a friendly pat from guide dog Jessa, showing how she is trained to alert her human to hypoglycemia. Ruefenacht was recently honored with a prestigious Jefferson Award for his work with D4D.

CVCHS Reporter . . . . . . . . .7 Design and Décor . . . . . . . .15 Directory of Advertisers . . . . .5 Estate Planning . . . . . . . . . . .6 Fashion Over 50 . . . . . . . . .16

Food for Thought . . . . . . . .17 Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Living Well (Special Section) 8 Obituary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Performing Arts . . . . . . . . . .16

Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 PHMS Reporter . . . . . . . . . .7 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Sports Shorts . . . . . . . . . . .10 Tech Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

February 22, 2013

Around Town Local kids honored for their kindness

Tots lift hearts for seniors The children of Marsh Creek KinderCare helped the seniors at Diamond Terrace to celebrate Valentine’s Day. The children walked to the retirement home with flowers and cards for the residents and serenaded the attentive audience with Valentine songs.

The holidays were extra special for the Moreci family this year. Aiden Michael joined his big sister, Isabella, 5, and parents Erin and Mike on Nov. 26. He was a little late for Thanksgiving turkey, but just in time for Christmas. Aiden weighed in 8 lbs. 8 ounces.

Jason Rogers

Ten local students were singled out and honored by the city of Clayton for showing extreme kindness to their peers, parents and teachers; helping others in need and being forgiving. The students were each presented with a certificate of recognition by Mayor Julie Pierce at the Feb. 5 Council meeting. Pictured above with their certificates are Georgia Moraes and Walid Gardizi from Diablo View Middle School, both nominated by principal Patti Bannister; Justin Rogers (CVCHS), Mayor Pierce; (standing in back) Hayley Jackson, Amy Harris, Brittany Shankle, Sara Kommer and Hailee Thompson, all from CVCHS and all presented by teacher Pat Marzel. Standing in front are Jeremy Oviedo and Danica Gibson from MDES. Danica was nominated by teacher Katrina Reyes and Jeremy was nominated by Karen Osterkamp and Adrienne Davis.

The student recognitions are part of the Do the Right Thing program, a community-wide initiative designed to promote strong character and values. Every other month, one of six

character traits is emphasized by teachers and principals, parents, community leaders and police. The other five traits are Responsibility, Kindness, Self-discipline, Integrity and Courage.

Kendall Albert scores big at spelling bee Clayton women climb Africa’s Mt. Kilimanjaro

Chris Smith at the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

1102 Oakwood Circle, Clayton

Kendall Albert, a fourthgrader in Mrs. Clary’s class, won the annual Spelling Bee at Mt. Diablo Elementary on Feb. 14 after correctly spelling the word “protein.” The top spellers from each of the fourth- and fifthgrade classes competed. Kendall will continue on to the 2013 Contra Costa County Spelling Bee on March 23.

Chris Smith and Sue Elliott, both of Clayton, traveled to Tanzania, Africa to make the eight-day trek up Mt. Kilimanjaro. Smith successfully hiked to the summit, elevation 19,340 feet. The final ascent started at midnight with a full moon and Smith’s headlamp lighting the way and culminated at sunrise at Uhuru Peak, the summit. Elliott was triumphant to reach 17,060 feet. They celebrated their successes with a four-day safari and finally relaxing on the beaches of Zanzibar.

Send your news and photos of your births, engagements, weddings, special recognitions, etc. to info@claytonpioneer.com.

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page 3

Obituary

U.S. keeps Rohna disaster secret for 50 years We first ran this story in the Veterans Day issue of the Pioneer, Nov. 28, 2003. We’re reprinting it now to honor Bill Caskey, a quiet hero and member of the country’s “Greatest Generation.” TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer

November 25, 1943, Thanksgiving Day: Army Air Corpsman, Corporal Bill Caskey and 1,980 other American soldiers boarded His Majesty’s Transport Rohna, “a dark gray, spooky looking,” rusty, coal burning British troopship and set sail in a 24-ship convoy bound for bases in China, Burma and India. For 1,015 GIs that day, a meal of canned chicken and weevil infested biscuits would be their last Thanksgiving dinner. At dusk on the second day out, the Rohna was hit by the world’s first guided missile. Within an hour, the ship sank. Six hundred men died instantly. The rest died on the decks, or were battered by malfunctioning lifeboats swinging uselessly on rusted and jammed cables against the side of the Rohna, or burned to death in the flaming waters, or were killed by gunfire as the Germans strafed the drowning men. Many got too tired and cold to hold on to whatever piece of debris they had been able to grab onto and simply let go, rolled over and drowned. It was the greatest single loss of American personnel at sea during World War II. Caskey was one of the luckier ones that night. He was playing cards, fan-tan (7UP) with five friends on the third deck down when the attack began. He immediately got up on deck where he watched the radio-guided bomb leave the German Heinkel 177. “I saw the bomb being released,” recalls Caskey. “I didn’t know

exactly what it was. I didn’t know it was radio controlled. There was no way in the world that it could miss.” The bomb hit the Rohna, cutting through the engine room and leaving a “hole the size of a house” in each side of the ship — where it went in, and where it came out — and over 600 dead soldiers in between. A sweet natured, unassuming man with an impish smile, Caskey’s throat still tightens and he swallows hard when he talks about the night the Rohna went down. Everything went wrong, he remembers. There weren’t enough lifeboats, and most of them were useless. The men were never shown how to use the life belts. Most wore them around their waists instead of up under their arms, causing them to tip

William Randolph Caskey April 13, 1922 – February 2, 2013 William “Bill” Caskey, husband, father, uncle, grandfather and recent great-grandfather was born April 13, 1922 in Decatur, Illinois. He enjoyed an idyllic Midwest childhood with his parents William and Flora and siblings Betty and Rufus. As a young man wanting to join the war effort, Bill left Finley College in his sophomore year and enlisted in the Army Air Corps. On Nov. 24, 1943 in Oran, Algeria, he, along with 1,981 other servicemen, boarded the British transport ship HMT Rohna, as part of a convoy headed east through the Mediterranean. On the open sea, the only ship in the convoy to take a direct hit, the Rohna sank quickly, killing 1,149 men. Along with several hundred brave men, Bill struggled to stay afloat in the turbulent, dark sea watching the horrors that surrounded him. After more than five hours, the minesweeper U.S.S. Pioneer rescued Bill and the other survivors. For his bravery in action, Bill was decorated with the Purple Heart that he wore proudly to the very end. In December 2000, NBC newsman Tom Brokaw, to highlight the story of the sinking of the Rohna, interviewed Bill and two other survivors on the evening news. A Clayton resident for more than 16 years, Bill was married to Madeline “Maddie” Zoulal Caskey for 66 years. Their love story began in India during WWII where Maddie was a performer with the USO and Bill was a young, smitten serviceman watching her singing and dancing on a makeshift stage. He returned numerous nights to meet her and watch her per-

Photo courtesy KCTS-TV, Seattle

BRITISH TROOPSHIP, HMT ROHNA

could hear men screaming for their mamas.” Then the rolling sea would raise him back up where he could see the stars and the lights of the minesweeper USS Pioneer, which had stayed behind after the rest of the convoy had gone ahead. Crewmen of the Pioneer were jumping into the water to save the injured and exhausted soldiers. Caskey, his hands bloody and cracked from smashing against the side of the rescue ship was pulled to safety after five and a half dark, cold hours in the water. In the pocket of his flight jacket were three of the four sevens from the fan-tan game. The 1,015 soldiers, the five British officers, the 115 Royal Indian seamen, and the three American Red Cross members who all perished brought the total dead to 1,138. More men died in the Rohna disaster than perished on the USS Arizona. But unlike the Arizona, the sinking of the Rohna was kept secret by both the United States and the British governments for 50 years. “The government didn’t want anyone to know about the glider bomb,” says Caskey. “It would be bad for morale.” In “The Sinking of the Rohna,” a definitive account of the disaster, former SF Chronicle reporter Don Fortune writes, “Military intelligence...knew the Rohna had sunk with heavy loss of life, but withheld this news from reporters...Following stan-

BILL CASKEY

over in the water. Caskey’s life belt didn’t inflate and he had to blow it up by mouth. When the bomb hit, he scrambled up top and “got the hell overboard,” lowering himself over the side and dropping 30 feet into the freezing, oily water, where he clung to a six foot piece of wood and listened as his shipmates died. “It was lonely,” says the soft-spoken man. “You’d drop down between the swells and there was nothing — just black. It was scary as hell. You

ING

D EN

dard procedure, the British Admiralty and the United States War Department immediately stamped the sinking TOP SECRET.” And top secret it stayed, for the duration of the war and for 50 years after. Families only knew that their loved ones were “missing in action.” With no records available, survivors found it impossible to get anyone in the government to believe it had happened. It wasn’t until 1993, when a few survivors began to search for crew members of the rescue ship Pioneer, that the story of the Rohna saw the light of day. That year, survivors of the disaster, crew members of the Pioneer and family members of those lost, 106 in all, gathered for the first time for an emotional reunion in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. About his night on the Rohna, Caskey says “I went in (the army) a boy, and came out a man. I lost five very good friends that night and I think about them every day.” In 1996, at Fort Mitchell Cemetery in Seale, Alabama, a granite memorial was dedicated to those lost in the attack on the Rohna. And finally, on October 10, 2000, the House of Representatives unanimously passed House Concurrent Resolution #408, “Expressing Appreciation for U.S. Service Members Aboard HMT Rohna When It Sank.” All of the men injured on the Rohna have received the Purple Heart.

form, always sitting in the front row. At the end of the war, Maddie returned to her home in San Francisco and Bill followed. They married in 1947 and settled in Walnut Creek where Bill enjoyed a career with Boghosian Brothers in wholesale carpet sales, and where they raised their two daughters, Toni and Lynn, and niece Jana. Bill peacefully departed this life on Feb. 2, 2013. His loving wife Maddie and eldest daughter Toni Russell predeceased him. He is survived by his daughter Lynn (Ron) Zweig, nieces Jana (Jim)Cuneo, Beth (Bill) Finlay, nephews Denny Clopper, Dan (Rita) Caskey, son-in-law Steve (Elisa) Russell, grandchildren Britt (Peter) Ruedi, Merin (Ryan) Ellis, Casey (Ibs) Rageh, Ryan Russell, Matt Zweig, niece Janine Cuneo, nephew Jeff (Carrie) Cuneo, cousins June and Mina Chatterjee, great-grandchild Jackson Ellis, great-nephew Charlie Cuneo and great-niece Haddie Harper Cuneo. There will be a celebration of life on Feb. 24. Please contact lynnzweig@hotmail.com for information. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make a donation to Meals on Wheels or Hospice. XXX

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

February 22, 2013

Marriage makes their garden business a Utopia PAMELA WIESENDANGER Clayton Pioneer

The two met as neighbors in a duplex. She owned a landscaping business, he attended horticulture classes and worked at a nursery. They toiled in the soil when at home – she in the front yard and he in the back. He asked her to help move a bench and did his best to keep her busy so she would not leave. Little did she want to leave. Now, married and in business together for 10 years, Angela and Ash Hakimi, Clayton residents and owners of Utopic Gardens, are gardeners at heart and by trade. “We want people to get excited about going into their

yard,” Angela says. They have grown Utopic Gardens from garden maintenance to design, installation and maintenance of those gardens. Angela comes from a family of gardeners in Iowa. She spent her babysitting money on plants when other kids spent their allowance on candy. As a young mother, she carried her son Dustin in a pack while she dug in the dirt. Ash describes his best days growing up in Iran as those when the gardener came. Ash would work with the gardener and eat his lunch in the garden. “I found peace in nature,” he says. The couple’s 3-year-old daughter, Auva Delilah, has been bitten by

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the garden bug, too. The Hakimis came to the Pioneer office on a rainy day as the wet weather is about the only reason they take a day off. There was a strong sense of tranquility surrounding them. The conversation moved easily between Angela and Ash. Ash explains, “Yoga is central in our life. It keeps us anchored in what we do.” Angela says, “There’s a flow, a balance. It is earthy.” The same flow characterizes their interaction with clients. Angela typically meets with the client first to discuss their budget, ideas and issues in the garden and do an initial sketch of the project. Then Ash visits the space and adds

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specifics to the client’s vision. “When a client is inspired and excited, it feeds us so much,” Ash says. And Angela and Ash motivate each other. “I’m not really satisfied until she (Angela) gets excited (and vice versa),” whether it is about the overall design or a special water feature or plant selection, for example. The process creates a synergy evident in a finished landscape that draws people into their yards and exceeds their expectations. Marcie and Ryan Covalt of Clayton hired Utopic Gardens to do a major overhaul of their backyard, including pavers, plants, lawn, lighting and irrigation. “We really loved the end result,” Marcie says. “We were so impressed,” she says about the project staying on time, on budget and especially that the crew “cleaned up every single afternoon.” After Terri and Vince Muscat of Concord saw Utopic Garden’s ad in the Clayton Pioneer, Terri recalls she said, “I want a utopic garden.” They met with Angela and Ash. Then Terri says the

ANGELA AND ASH FINE TUNE PLANT PLACEMENT as part of a front yard makeover that turned this house from plain white with grey trim and white railing to an exterior with rich color, a striking metal and wood railing, attractive stone and plants for year-round appeal.

couple spent time in the backyard. “He puts himself in the space and lets it talk to him,” Terri says of Ash. The Muscat’s landscape was restructured. “Now the backyard is a finished piece of artwork,” Terri says. “Utopic” is not defined in Webster’s dictionary, but was chosen as the business name to

Tea, from page 1 The event has been a traditional annual gathering – almost a family reunion – for dozens of descendents of the town’s early settlers since 1977. Joel Clayton and his wife Margaret settled here in 1847 and had nine children, only four of whom survived childhood. Joel died of pneumonia in 1872 and Margaret moved to San Francisco to live with her daughter. Joel and Margaret and two of their daughters are

buried in Live Oak Cemetery near Clayton. The museum is supported by the Clayton Historical Society (CHS) on an annual budget of about $25,000. The CHS sponsors several fundraisers each year including the Christmas Home Tour and the spring Home and Garden Tour, which is set this year for May 18 and 19. This spring the museum gardens will see a complete renova-

represent a place that is utopialike, timeless and nurturing. “What makes us stand out,” Angela says, “is the compilation of our core, background and creative abilities and is summed up as our passion and intention.” To contact Utopic Gardens or for more information, call 925-524-0055 or visit utopicgardens.com.

tion, says JoAnn Casper, president of the CHS. The drawings and plans are complete and waiting for approval from the city. The CHS has managed to save over half of the $25,000 cost and will sell bricks for the new wall and sponsor more fundraisers to complete the project. The Clayton Museum, 6101 Main Street in downtown Clayton, is open Wednesdays and Sundays from 2-4 p.m. and by appointment. For more information on the Clayton Historical Society go to claytonhistory.org or call (925) 672-0240.

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February 22, 2013

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

MDUSD suit, 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 PAMELA W IESENDANGER , Administration S TAFF W RITERS : Denisen Hartlove, Nicci Shipstead, Pam Wiesendanger, Peggy Spear

We remember Jill Bedecarré - Her spirit is our muse

PIONEER INFO

reserves the right to reject any advertising we believe is unsuitable.

LET US KNOW Weddings, engagements, 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 Clayton resident. You will find the appropriate form for your announcement on our Website. Attach your photo to the form. Make sure the image size you are about to send is at least 3 MB but not bigger than 6MB. The only format we accept is JPG. You can also mail or bring your print to the office and we can scan it for you. Also on our Website are forms for submitting Community Calendar items and press releases for your organization.

Tel: (925) 672-0500 Fax: (925) 672-6580 Tamara Steiner tamara@claytonpioneer.com Send ads to ads@claytonpioneer.com Send Sports News to sports@claytonpioneer.com Send Club News to clubnews@claytonpioneer.com Send Church News to churchnews@claytonpioneer.com

Send School News to schoolnews@claytonpioneer.com

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CLASSIFIEDS

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Clayton Pioneer welcomes letters from our readers. As a general rule, letters should be 250 words or less and submitted at least one week prior to publication date. 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 your name, address and daytime telephone number. We will not print letters from “anonymous.” E-mail your letter in a Word document to tamara@claytonpioneer.com. Letters MUST be submitted via E-mail.

Classified rates per insertion: $48 for first 30 words, $.40 each additional word Non-profit: $24 for first 30 words, $.20 each additional word To place your classified ad over the phone, call the office at (925) 6720500 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. Or, you may fax your typewritten ad and credit card information to (925) 672-6580. All classifieds must be paid for in advance by credit card (Master Card or Visa) We will not accept any ad that discriminates on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, nationality, family status or disability. The Clayton Pioneer

The victim who is now 18, suffered “physical and emotional injuries and other harm” from the abuse, which she claims school administration should have known about and prevented. She filed suit as “Jane Doe” to protect her privacy. In December 2012, Cottrell was arrested and charged with 22 counts of felony sex abuse. Taking a deal from the District Attorney, he pleaded guilty to seven counts and was sentenced last June to nine years in prison. The suit, filed last week on February 11, has not yet been served on the defendants, said MDUSD General Counsel Greg Rolen. “The first we heard about the lawsuit was when the Contra Costa Times called on Feb. 13,”

CHILDCARE/ PRESCHOOL Enroll now. Fall/summer childcare, school ages, weekdays, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fall preschool, weekdays, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Clayton Community School at Mt. Diablo Elementary. 672-0388.

FOR SALE Vintage table lamps, silk shades, pressed glass base with crystals. Men’s leather jacket, men’s wool suits. Hohner Chromonica 280C, Hohner Golden Melody, Hohner Blues Harp, Master Key Pitch instrument. 682-3448.

HELP WANTED Computer Tech Growing business has position for onsite pro computer tech in Contra Costa County. Must have experience in Windows and Mac OS, network repair and troubleshooting. ComputersUSA! 672-9989.

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TUTORS NEEDED Diablo Valley Literacy Council needs English tutors. Tutor training classes: March 9, 12, 16. Must attend all three sessions. Nominal fee to cover training and material costs. Volunteer time commitment of one or two hours per week. For more information, go to dvlc.tripod.com. To register, call 6853881 or send email to DVLC4ESL@gmail.com.

GARDENING SERVICES Flower Gardening by Nicole Hackett Perennial, ornamental, rose and container care. Keep your garden in flowers this year with monthly fertilizing and pruning visits. Email for consultation or details. Gardengirl94517@yahoo.com.

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Rolen said. “Nor, has any tort claim been made on the District.” The victim’s attorneys claim they are exempt from the state law requiring claim be made against a public agency before filing a lawsuit since the case involves sexual abuse occurring after the law was changed in June 2009. After Cottrell’s arrest in December 2011, the district conducted a “very thorough investigation,” said Rolen. “We asked everyone – parents, students, teachers, administration – if anyone had said anything. There were no reports or indications in anyway.” “At this time,” said Rolen, “we are just waiting to be served.”

Classified

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THOUSANDS

from page 1

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Help Fight Hunger Anna Chan – AKA: The Lemon Lady needs your help! Weekly commitment appreciated. For more info and contact numbers, go to thelemonlady.blogspot.com. Hospice of the East Bay Hospice of the East Bay is seeking volunteers to assist Hospice patients and their caregivers. Opportunities include: • Licensed Hair Stylists to offer hair cuts and styling • Certified Massage Therapists to provide massage therapy • Mobile Notaries to witness the signing of important documents • Bereavement Support Volunteers to provide support to family members after their loved one has died • Patient Support Volunteers to provide companionship and practical assistance. To apply for free training, call Hospice of the East Bay at 8875678 and ask for the Volunteer Department or email volunteers@hospiceeastbay.org Clayton Historical Society Museum needs a greeter for two hours per month from 2-4 p.m. Wednesdays or Sundays. Call the museum at 672-0240 and leave your name. Clayton Community Library Needs volunteers. Minimum age 13. Minimum commitment is 6 months. Some training provided. Contact: Arlene at 6739777 or nielsenjanc@aol.com.

Page 5

Directory of Advertisers Auto Clayton Auto Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .686-1000 Clayton Valley Shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-3900 Business Services Rising Moon Marketing & Public Relations . . . . .672-8717 Chiropractor Coflin Chiropractic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6500 Construction and Trades Appliance Repairs by Bruce, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2700 Belfast Plumbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .457-5423 Burkin Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1519 Diablo View Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .822-5144 Iron Horse Concrete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .595-3951 Steffan Smith Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .914-0497 Tipperary Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-2679 Dentistry Perfect Smiles Family Dentistry . . . . . . . . . . . . . .889-9212 Dining and Entertainment Clayton Club Saloon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-0440 Cup O’Jo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-5105 Memo's . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .914-0395 Oakhurst Country Club . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9737, ext. 205 Financial and Insurance Services Held, Chris – Morgan Stanley Smith Barney . . . .930-3815 Leraul, Luciann – CPA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .518-9076 Littorno, Richard – Attorney at Law . . . . . . . . . . .432-4211 Miller, Tom – CPA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .354-1385 Mingham, Pete – Guild Mortgage Company . . . .906-8166 Prosperitas Wealth Management . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-7700 Van Wyck, Doug – State Farm Insurance . . . . . .672-2300 Funerals Ouimet Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-4242 Home and Garden Abbey Carpet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .686-9901 Clear Splash Pool Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-6245 Diablo Lawnscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .381-3757 Diablo View Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-8300 Flooring City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .680-8220 Interiors Panache . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-7920 Nichols Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9955 The Maids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-6243 Utopic Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0055 Waraner Bros. Tree Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .831-2323 Waraner Tree Experts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .250-0334 Mailing Services The UPS Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-6245 Optometry Foresight Optometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4100 Pet Services Monte Vista Veterinary Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1100 Pittsburg Pet Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .432-7387 Rodie's Feed and Pet Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4600 Real Estate and Mortgage Services French, Lynne – Windermere Real Estate . . . . . .672-8787 Howard, Don – Better Homes Realty . . . . . . . . . .408-3184 Klock, Leigh – Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212-5593 Laurence, Pete – RE/MAX Realty . . . . . . . . . . . .890-6004 Lopez, Stephanie – Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . .932-7329 Mazzei, Matt – Mazzei Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-0757 Stojanovich, Jennifer – Better Homes Realty . . .567-6170 Vujnovich, George - Better Homes Realty . . . . . .672-4433 Recreation and Fitness Clayton Valley Bowl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-4631 Earthquake Arabians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .360-7454 Kali Ball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .276-0845 Senior Services Courtyards at Pine Creek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-3900 Diamond Terrace Senior Retirement Living . . . . .524-5100 Montecito – Oakmont Senior Living . . . . . . . . . . .852-6702 Services, Other ComputersUSA! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9989 Net Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6029 Travel Cruise Adventures Unlimited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .935-7447 Travel to Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9840 Living Well Contra Costa In-Home Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .822-7101 Levity Fitness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2995 Loftin Family Dentistry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-7997 Momentum Fitness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .405-6599 SNAP Fitness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-0110

Self-Discipline Do the Right Thing

Page 6

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

February 22, 2013

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The Concord Police Department has been awarded a $69,000 grant by the Brenden Mann Foundation to fund downtown patrol officers for the 2013 calendar year. In addition to ensuring public safety, the officers will collaborate with business owners, downtown stakeholders, and other City departments to resolve quality of life issues. The officers will also work with local homeless outreach organizations to offer shelter and services to the homeless, and lessen their impact on local businesses. “We are pleased to be partnering with the Concord Police Department on this important downtown development effort,” commented Foundation President Johnny Brenden. The grant funds bicycle and foot patrols on Friday and Sat-

the Caldecott

urday evenings. Officers will perform proactive problem solving in the immediate downtown area, from the Terminal Shopping Center to the Park and Shop Center. These officers will supplement patrols assigned to weekday events downtown, such as the Music and Market

series, July 4th Jubilee, National Night Out, and the California Symphony. The Brenden Mann Foundation is a private foundation. For more information about the program, contact Sgt. Russ Norris, (925) 6713311, ext. 4328.

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Be careful when choosing minors as beneficiaries A common estate planning mistake is to designate a minor as beneficiary — or contingent beneficiary — of a life insurance policy or retirement plan. Insurance companies and financial institutions won’t pay large sums of money directly to a minor. Instead, they’ll require costly court proceedings to appoint a guardian to manage the child’s inheritance. And there’s no guarantee the guardian will be the person you’d choose. Suppose, for example, that you’re a divorced man and appoint your minor children as contingent beneficiaries. If you die while the children are still minors, a guardian will be required. The court will likely appoint their mother — your

RICHARD LITTORNO ESTATE PLANNING ex-wife — as guardian. There’s another problem with a naming minor as a beneficiary: The funds will have to be turned over to the child after he or she reaches the age of majority (18 or 21, depending on state

law). Generally, that isn’t the ideal age for a child to gain unrestricted access to large sums of money. A better strategy is to designate one or more trusts as beneficiaries of the policy or plan. This approach provides several advantages: Not only does it avoid the need for guardianship proceedings, but it also gives you the opportunity to select the trustee who’ll be responsible for managing the assets. And it allows you to determine when the child will receive the funds and under what circumstances. Richard A. Littorno is an attorney specializing in estate planning. He has offices in Walnut Creek and Pittsburg. Send your questions to Richard@LittornoLaw.com.

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WILL CLANEY TECH TALK Total world domination, by geeks with their computing toys, is nearly complete, with smart phones, tablets, PCs and laptops set to blanket the planet by the billions. The growing popularity of smart devices could spell the end for computers. Is the PC dead? Is this the end? No, I don’t think so. According to the latest statistics there are over one billion PCs in the world and this figure is growing by 10-15 percent per year. It sounds like people are buying computers because a full-sized computer is still the best way to do real work. But, the newcomers, such as smartphones, are threatening the status quo and will soon overtake the world population of computers and laptops. “There are now more than one billion smartphones in use around the world, just five years after Apple ignited the market with the launch of its first iPhone,” According to The Telegraph (telegraph.co.uk). And the growth rate for smart-

A comparison of unit shipment shows sales of desktop PCs and Notebooks (1st bar) being overtaken by smartphone sales (2nd bar).

phones is an astronomical 20-25 percent per year. Sources say there will be more smartphones than desktop PCs and laptops by 2015. That may be true, but computers are here to stay. The other gadgets will serve for communication and portable entertainment devices, not so much as work stations. The accountancy group Deloitte predicts smart phones will rise to 1.1 billion in 2014. The firm predicts that this year will be the first time smart phones such as the iPhone, BlackBerry and Android devices, along with tablets such as the iPad, will outsell desktop computers, laptops and netbooks. This does not mean the “era of the PC is over,” Deloitte said. “Traditional PCs will still

be the workhorse computing platform for most of the globe.” Sales of PCs are still expected to rise 15 percent over last year,” according to The Independent. More and more of these devices are working together as their “ecosystems” become more integrated. That simply means the user can employ the same operating system throughout the product line — from PCs, laptops, tablets, etc. So, if you are thinking of upgrading you may want to standardize your devices, choosing from Apple, Google and Windows. For example, Apple’s Mac OS/X works similarly to an iPhone; Microsoft’s Windows 8 PC works similarly to the Nokia and HTC smartphones. And, Google’s Chromebook laptop works similarly (sort of) to their Droid smartphones; that’s ecosystem. Oh, by the way, your local geeks at Computers USA are moving across the parking lot from the Pavilion Center to the Clayton Station shopping center, next door to Caesars Pizza and the Postal Annex. 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.

A Caldecott Tunnel historian and a local geologist will present an information session about the fourth bore through the East Bay’s tunnel at 7 p.m. March 6 at Diamond Terrace, 6401 Center Street in Clayton. The event is sponsored by the Clayton Historical Society. Ivy Morrison will provide a project overview and update covering the Caldecott’s complex history, geology, design and construction. The presentation will include dramatic photographs and a short video about the tunnel construction. Chris Risden creates a picture of what the area between Orinda and Oakland was like during the Miocene period, about 10 million years ago. The climate was warmer with abundant greenery and a river floodplain where small rodent-like creatures nested in the savannah and antelope and gazelle grazed peacefully. He describes the next several million years in the Pleistocene period when a giant sloth bigger than a 17-person van lived nearby. Fossils found before and during the excavation for the Caldecott Fourth Bore provide details of the past as do discoveries paleontologists have made in the Lafayette area. Risden will bring rock samples from both the eastern (Orinda) and the western (Oakland) excavations. The tunnel is projected to open this year. A complete history of the tunnel and the excavation process with photos is available on the website www.caldecott-tunnel.org March 6 will also be opening day for this special exhibit, “Caldecott Tunnel Fourth Bore: Tunneling Through Time” at the Clayton Museum, 6101 Main Street, Clayton. Visit www.claytonhistory.org or call 925-672-0240

You never know what’s under the hood

GARY TAYLOR CAR TUNED In today’s hurry-up world, one thing that is overlooked is one of the most important: what is under the hood of your car and what condition is it in? With today’s self-service stations and quick oil changers, under-the-hood is not watched as closely as it should be. Many of us remember when gas attendants would pump your gas, check your tires and look under the hood (e.g. check the oil, belts, hoses, transmission fluid, coolant and washer fluid). This is also a fond memory for your cars. Many cars today do not get their fluids checked unless they’re getting an oil change and sometimes not even then. Most drivers these days are under the impression that as long as their oil is changed, there are no problem. This can lead to small problems becoming big ones.

See Car Tuned, page 12

February 22, 2013

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page 7

College signing day a hit for CVCHS athletes Clayton Valley High School has always had an outstanding athletic program. Many years since the school’s founding in 1958, CVHS has graduated phenomenal senior athletes, who have lead school sports with their talent and pride. A few decades later, not too much has changed. Sports are still a huge part of daily life at the high school. At least for my generation, CV has been one of the leading athletic schools in the district. Over a third of all students at CV are involved in school athletics, and many of the coaches are or were pro athletes themselves. Needless to say, Clayton Valley has always been an athletic high school, and the transformation into CVCHS has done nothing but improved it. Of course, a team is only as good as its players, and all this success did not come without the dedication and talent of some truly amazing athletes. In fact, Clayton Valley held its own during National Signing Day on Feb. 6, and showcased the best ath-

ROBBIE PARKER

CVCHS REPORTER letes the school has to offer. On that Wednesday, the few top athletes, their families, and respective coaches lined up to take photos, and most importantly, ink their name along the dotted line to finalize their commitment to different Division I and Division II colleges. The students received many comments of congratulation for their accomplishments from all, including from the CVCHS Executive Director David Linzey. In the end, calling students Joe Protheroe, Jacee

Almond, Kierra Willis, Taylor Ryle and Sam Boeger star athletes is an understatement. All 5 students will be attending universities where they can showcase their true skills and high-tier athletic talent. Joe Protheroe, third in the entire State of California in rushing yards, was named NCS Offensive Player of the Year, and led the football team to an NCS Section Championship, will be touching-down at Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo for his sport. Sam Boeger, who was the captain for the Varsity Girls Soccer team, will soon be attending Chico State. Jacee Almond, a proud athlete on the CVCHS softball team, willingly signed to play college league at Bucknell University. Another softball player, Kierra Willis, choose to continue playing her sport out at Fresno State University. Last but not least, Taylor Ryle with be heading south to Long Beach to make a splash in water polo. “I am very excited and awaiting the time to play water polo

for college,” Ryle said. After receiving all North Coast Sectionals Honors, her skills as a water polo player no doubt made her a truly sought-after athlete. “I can’t wait to move down there, meet my team, and start playing for my new school.” Despite her enthusiasm and eager feelings, Ryle explained that she will miss playing water polo at Clayton Valley, and she will never forget the skills and ideals she learned in high school. “My coach, Mr. B., has taught me so much, and helped me get to a level of play so I can go succeed in college.” When giving advice to other peers and athletes about dedication to a sport, she had to say, “never give up on your dreams. If you push yourself hard enough, and are determined enough, you can truly accomplish anything you set your heart to do.” Robbie Parker is a freshman at Clayton Valley Charter High School. Send comments to Robbie@claytonpioneer.com

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Rep. Miller’s office seeking student artists Are you a high school artist? Do you want a chance at having your artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol and visiting D.C. this June? U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Martinez) is now accepting entries for the 2013 Congressional Arts Competition for California’s 11th Congressional District. Deadline for submissions is the week of April 15, 2013. High school student artists in the 11th District are invited to submit an original painting, drawing or other art form for the competition. One student’s work will be selected by a judging panel of local artists to hang in the U.S. Capitol Building for one year along with student artwork from across the country. The winning student will also be flown to D.C. in June for the Annual Congressional Art Competition Reception. Miller announced today that he will once again hold the popular “Fan Favorite” Art competition at Facebook.com/RepGeorgeMiller from April 29 to May 3 with all of the artwork submitted to the Con-

gressional Art Competition from his district. Miller encourages the artists’ friends, family, classmates, teachers and principals to “like” their “fan favorite” piece of artwork. The artwork receiving the most Fan Favorite votes, or the runner-up, will be displayed in Miller’s Concord district office, provided it is not also selected by the judging panel. “I encourage high school artists in my congressional district to enter this contest. Every year I am so impressed with the high caliber and diversity of student art work that hangs in the U.S. Capitol,” said Miller. “Art is a critical component of a well-rounded education for young people, not to mention an important influence on the fabric of our society. There are so many talented young people in my district and I’m proud to have the opportunity to share their work with my colleagues and visitors to the Capitol. This contest is a great opportunity for students to receive recognition for their artistic talent and I’m honored to support it.”

The contest is part of the nationwide annual Congressional Art Competition that showcases the artistic talents of students across the country. The winning 11th District student and a guest will be flown, courtesy of Southwest Airlines, to Washington, D.C. to attend a national reception in June. The winner’s artwork will be displayed in the Cannon Tunnel running between the Capitol and the Cannon House Office Building and the winning student will have the opportunity to receive an art scholarship to the Savannah College of Art and Design, in Savannah, Georgia. The 2012 winner from the 7th Congressional District was Courtney von Savoye from Concord High School. Her piece, a drawing, entitled “Pepper Values,” will be returned to her. In its place in the Capitol will hang the art by the 2013 winner. Artwork is due the week of April 15. Artwork must be accompanied by a Student Release Form. Entries must be original and

After 47 years, she’s still having a ball JENNIFER HOEHN PHMS REPORTER What do ALL Pine Hollow alumni have in common? Ms. Hanson. Shirley Hanson has been a Physical Education teacher since the beginning of Pine Hollow Middle School – an astounding 47 years! Pine Hollow was her first teaching job straight from college at the University of Southern Oregon. Every student that has gone to Pine Hollow has had her for a teacher. Through the years, she has understandably seen big changes in students’ clothing, behavior and attitude. “Clothing was far more conservative than the baggy pants for the boys and girls’ off-theshoulder blouses with thin straps that show the midriff,” said Ms. Hanson. “And there was more caring and respect for teachers and their peers,” she continued. “It seems to have become a ‘me’ world.” Ms. Hanson has not only been with Pine Hollow for a remarkable amount of time, but she has also contributed greatly

to the school. In 2005, the gym was named the “Shirley J. Hanson Gymnasium” after her. This was a well-earned acknowledgement to all she has done and the impact she has made. In 1990, she added the particularly special Shirt Program. When a student turns in enough extra credits and shows great leadership, initiative, and responsibility, they get a different colored shirt SHIRLEY HANSON than the standard PE shirt of their grade. The color of the shirt keeps changing as they go up in rank. Finally, when the student is in eighth grade and has reached the point of the highestranked shirt color, they are given the opportunity to become a Black Shirt (essentially a PE teacher) through various projects and assignments. Mr. Vallis, another PE teacher at Pine Hollow, admires Ms. Hanson for devoting her whole life to the school, every year. “Kids come back and always say how thankful they are to have been in her program,” he said.

“She has made a tremendous impact on many lives, including mine. I am lucky to be able to come to work and be under her tutelage.” “I know the gym will never be named after me, but maybe the side boys’ bathroom will be,” he laughs. We all have dreams, Mr. Vallis. Ms. Hanson has a very interesting personal philosophy. “If you can make one kid per day happy or happier than he or she was when they came into your class that day, you’ve done your job,” she says. “You can’t change the world all in one day; the idea is to make a dent.” Shirley Hanson has obviously made a “dent” at Pine Hollow and in each of the student’s lives. Her program not only sets us apart from all other schools, but also teaches us accountability, determination and makes us the best we can be. The gym was just a minor tribute to all she has done for Pine Hollow; she deserves much more for dedicating her life to this school. Jennifer Hoehn is in the eighth grade at Pine Hollow Middle School. Her interests are writing and illustration.She also enjoys playing the piano, and has a Glitter Tattoo business with her family. Email her at jennifer@claytonpioneer.com

submitted in one of several categories: Prints: lithographs, silkscreen, etc.; Drawings: colored pencils, charcoal, etc; Paintings: oil, water colors, etc.; Mixed Media: ink, pencil, marker, etc.; Computer Generated Art; Collages created with non-original artwork; Asian Calligraphy: (black ink on rice paper) with translation, and all types of photography. Artwork must be no larger than 28 x 28, and 4 inches deep, and weigh no more than 15 pounds including the frame. For more information, please contact Adrienne Ursino at 925-602-1880.

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Page 8

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

February 22, 2013

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page 9

A Clayton Pioneer Publication

Don’t buy the bunk: Love your heart this Valentine’s Day By MEHMET C. OZ, MD, & MICHAEL F. ROIZEN, MD Slam-dunk your low-dose aspirin in the trashcan ‘cause it’s not doing your heart any favors. (Huh?) Load your plate with French fries, chicken nuggets, and other deep-fried disasters ‘cause cooking oil ain’t so bad. (You’re kiddin’ me.) Quit taking statins to lower cholesterol- ‘cause you’re putting on a few pounds and worried about diabetes. (Whoa, Nelly!) You KNOW these choices are no way to romance your ticking heart. Your heart deserves better. While you’re nibbling a little of the artery-relaxing dark chocolate from your Valentine’s Day candy box and nuzzling with your sweetheart (yup, affection and intimate sex are great for your heart!), let us help you bust four big heart-health myths. That amazing, muscular pump that keeps thumpin’ 24-7 will say thanks — and so will the people who love you.

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Myth #1: Aspirin’s a dud — and too dangerous to mess with. A British study of more than 100,000 people says lowdose aspirin is less beneficial than previously thought and that the risk (digestive-system bleeding) is greater. People in the study who took one low-dose tablet daily were 10 percent less likely to have a heart event — and 20 percent less likely to have a nonfatal heart attack. But their risk for gastrointestinal bleeding was increased a whopping 30 percent. Truth: We have long said one aspirin isn’t enough. Two low-dose aspirin a day — that’s 162 milligrams — with half a glass of warm water before and after slashes men’s heart attack risk and women’s stroke risk 34 percent. Warm water dissolves the pill faster, eliminating 70 percent of aspirin’s gut attack that comes from the undissolved tablet resting against your stomach lining. Aspirin’s not for everybody, so talk with your doc first. And if you notice a gnawing sensation or any digestion problems, call your doc, pronto.

Myth #2: Fried food’s fine. One Spanish study found that fried-food lovers who used olive or sunflower oil had no extra heart disease risk. But don’t fire up the grease quite yet! Truth: Foods fried — even in heart-friendly oils like olive, safflower and macadamia nut (in pilot studies) — are still packed with calories; we believe that broiling fish or chicken and steaming veggies (and topping ’em with a drizzle of olive oil) is much better for your heart. Frying drives oil into food — and the extra calories can pack fat onto you. Myth #3: Statins are too risky. Slender, post-menopausal women who took cholesterol-lowering statin drugs were 50 percent more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes in a Mayo Clinic study. But that doesn’t mean quitting statins is a good idea. Truth: Overall diabetes risk remained pretty low for these women. If you’re taking a statin, keep it up. These drugs rein in high LDL cholesterol and cool off chronic, body-wide inflammation — protecting your brain as well as your heart. There’s some evidence statin users have lower risk for dementia. Better to change your lifestyle to decrease your diabetes risk (you know the drill, walk, manage your stress), and stay with your statin. Myth #4: Don’t sweat the small stuff. If your LDL cholesterol, blood pressure, or blood sugar are “a little high” — but your doctor says your 10-year risk for heart trouble is low, then you’re in the clear, right? Wrong. Truth: These “little” problems will increase your odds for a heart attack 10- to 18-fold over the next three to four decades. They double or even quadruple your stroke risk. Up with LDL, blood glucose and blood pressure, and down with HDL? You’ve got “major agers” that add years to your real age. - Source: RealAge.com

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Time is key for heart attack survival We have all heard the sayings, “time is money,” “time won’t let me,” “time out,” “time in a bottle,” etc. Well, I want to add another one: time is muscle. Let me be more specific: time is cardiac muscle. When you are experiencing an acute heart attack, due to a blocked cardiac blood vessel, the best treatment for you is to open that vessel as quickly as possible. The sooner this is done the more heart muscle you save. In this situation, time will not only mean the difference between life and death, but also the difference between being able to walk 18 holes and barely making it out of your house each day. The best way to open that

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DOCTOR’S ORDERS vessel is to have a cardiac catherization (angiogram) and a stent placed by the cardiologist. However, getting to this point requires a lot of steps and, in some places, takes several hours. Your heart doesn’t have hours. In fact, national medical societies have recognized this and have stressed the importance of establishing Cardiac Centers of Excellence in local communities. These centers are

hospitals which have streamlined the heart attack treatment process and can literally get a patient from the front door of the Emergency Department and into the catherization lab, where they open the blood vessel, in under 90 minutes. This is absolutely amazing. A Cardiac Center of Excellence is exactly where I would want to go for my heart attack, God forbid I have one. Fortunately, we have several such hospitals right here in our community, including my hospitals at John Muir and Sutter Delta. These hospitals are able to get a patient to the Cath lab in as little time as 20 minutes from arrival. This time ranks up there with the best times throughout the country. As well, the average time to cath lab at these institutions are around 60 minutes, well below what is required by national standards. This success wasn’t easy. It took coordinated efforts with the paramedics, who perform and send ECGs from the field so that a heart attack can be

identified as soon as possible. It took coordination within the emergency department to get the patient assessed and moved to the cath lab quickly. And, it took commitment from the cath lab personnel and the cardiologists to be ready and available at a moments notice to care for our patients. In essence, it took great teamwork. It took people with the same goal, to deliver the best care possible for our patients. Our community is very lucky to have such great teams right here among us. Our success translates into better patient care and better patient outcomes. So if you have the signs of a heart attack (chest pressure with shortness of breath, left jaw and/or arm pain, nausea, and sweatiness), you will get seen and cared for quickly and at world class institutions with world class professionals. Dr. Birdsall is an emergency room physician at John Muir Hospital. Email questions or comments for him to mdbirdsall@aol.com

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February is National Heart Health Month, so give your special Valentine to a romantic and heart-healthy meal with fresh produce from the farmers’ market. Two 6-ounce salmon filets 4 tbsp. extra virgin olive Leafy greens, root 6 cups of chopped kale oil, divided vegetables, citrus, 1 cup pistachios 1 tsp. pepper, more or berries, and more 1/2 cup panko less to taste can be found this 2 garlic cloves 1 tsp. salt 1 time of year. Whole Meyer lemon grain breads, heart-healthy olive oils, and sweet local honey are available as well. • Leafy greens like spinach, kale, Swiss chard, and lettuce are loaded with fiber, high in calcium, vitamin A, low in calories, and have no cholesterol. • Citrus has antioxidants like vitamins C and A, niacin, and zinc, all great for your heart. • Strawberries have vitamin C, fiber, phosCheck out this recipe for Crusted Salmon phate, and loads of potassium to help and Sauteed Kale (see ingredients above). In a your blood pressure. food processor, grind 1/2 of pistachios, salt, • Root vegetables such as carrots, sweet pepper and garlic to a breadcrumb consistency. potatoes, and beets are full of vitamins Toss with the panko and set aside. Pat the and antioxidants because of their deep salmon dry with a paper towel, and either colors; fiber-rich and high in folate and remove the skin completely or score it to preother B vitamins. vent burning. Massage the fish with one table• Sweet dark honey is rich in antioxidants, spoon of the olive oil on each filet, and cover especially buckwheat honey. A teacompletely with the pistachio-panko mixture. spoon or two a day is all you need. Bring a medium pot of water to a boil as you • Olive oil is a monounsaturated fat and prepare to blanch the kale. Fill a large bowl with good for your heart. It also has cold water and set aside. polyphenols which reduce inflammaIn a hot pan (medium heat), pour one tabletion and may help fight certain kinds of spoon of olive oil and lay the salmon down cancer. To keep your heart strong and gently. Leave the salmon undisturbed for 4-5 ticking away for a long time, the Amerminutes. While the salmon sears, blanch the ican Heart Association recommends chopped kale in the hot water for approximateeating foods high in antioxidants, low in ly one minute. sodium, sugars and fats, and lots of Remove it and immediately shock the kale in fiber. Eat as close to the source as you the cold water. Squeeze all remaining water out can by avoiding processed pre-packof the kale and set aside. After 4-5 minutes, aged foods. They’re usually full of soditurn the salmon and cook for another 4-5 minum, dyes, and chemicals. Salmon, nuts, utes. Remove from the pan and toss in the kale and other omega-3 rich foods are great and remaining 1/2 cup of pistachios for one for your heart, too. Get regular exercise, minute. On serving plates nestle the fish on top keep your stress levels down, and visit of the bed of greens and spritz with 1/2 Meyer your doctor for cholesterol and blood lemon. Recipe & photo: dinnertool.com. pressure checks. And don’t forget to laugh a lot!

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

February 22, 2013

Sports CVHS Hall of Fame Class of 2013 announced JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

It will be another nostalgic evening May 18 when the third class of inductees to the Clayton Valley High School Athletic Hall of Fame is honored. Selection committee co-chairs Bill Nelson and Dee Billeter recently released the names of the 2013 honorees featuring 13 athletes, two coaches, four teams and a pair of community leaders. They will all be feted on Saturday, May 18, at Centre Concord. The committee was able to select CV Eagles from the 1990s for the first time along with those who excelled in the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. The Hall of Fame had its inaugural class in 2008 marking the 50th anniver-

Photo courtesy Clayton Valley High School

THE CLAYTON VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL Athletic Hall of Fame has a distinctive Mashore feel with Justin Mashore joining his brother Damon and father Clyde in the Hall this year. Justin Mashore graduated in 1991 when he was honored as the CVHS Athlete of the Year following a stunning senior baseball season when he set school records of 40 stolen bases and 41 runs for the BVAL champion Eagles. The former mark still stands over two decades later. Mashore is now coach in the minor leagues for the Texas Rangers.

sary of the Concord school with standouts from the 1960s and ‘70s feted. In 2010 the second class added 1980 participants to the eligibility list. The next Hall of Fame class will be in 2015 when athletes from the first decade of the 21st century will be eligible. While the decade of the ‘90s dominates the current induction list the 15member committee went back to the 1960s to select three-sport standout Carl Massey. Among the honorees will be brothers Damon and Justin Mashore who will join their dad, Clyde Mashore, a member of the inaugural Hall of Fame class in 2008. Clyde Mashore graduated from Clayton Valley in 1964 as a threesport all-league standout who went on to a major league baseball career. His son Damon graduated in 1988 and also played in the major leagues while younger brother Justin was the third family member to be CVHS Athlete of the Year in 1991 and played professional baseball for 10 years. Baseball star Ron Olson, who still holds school pitching records from the 1970 season, will be honored posthumously. The fourth member of this current Hall of Fame class to play professionally was football standout Sam Williams (1998) who recently concluded an eight-year career with the Oakland Raiders. Long-time Clayton Valley coaches Tom DiMercurio (football, baseball and tennis) and John Millar (track, cross country and soccer) will join five of their Eagle coaching brethren in the hall. Debra and Steve Gonsalves, both Clayton Valley High alums, will be installed for their community leadership. As one indication of their devotion to their alma mater the CVCHS football stadium bears their name. Steve Gonsalves was an outstanding basketball player for the Eagles and still remains in the record book for his rebounding prowess. The teams who are being inducted are the 1994 Boys and girls cross country, 1977 baseball and 1998 girls basketball. Besides, Nelson and Billeter, the selection committee includes Raphael Belluomini, Dennis Bledsoe, Pete Carpino, Ron Clark, DiMercurio, Dick Ellis, Debra Gonsalves, A.J. Hanson,

Competition anything but Powder Puff As part of Spirit Week for the Winter Dance/Ball the senior and junior girls at Clayton Valley Charter High School squared off in a pair of Powder Puff football games that were spirited and well contested. No bragging rights were fully flushed out as each class won one game. Organized by teacher Christine Reimer and her leadership class, the games were played on the new black turf in Gonsalves Stadium. The juniors coached by Mitch McDuff edged coach Dave Leal’s seniors 6-0 in overtime on a pass from Rachel Sivier to Catalina Buenrosto. Coach Paul Reynaud coached a senior team in the second game and this time the older class prevailed 20-0.

Karen Johnson, Kim Lackey, Millar, Herc Pardi and Karey Sheehan Venegas. Committee members obviously do not participate in their own selection.

Tickets for the dinner and induction will be available after Mar. 18 through the Clayton Valley Charter High School website (claytonvalley.org, click on Web

Photo courtesy Howisey family

THE YEAR 1994 WAS EXTRA SPECIAL FOR THE CLAYTON VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL cross country program. The boys were league champions, took second at North Coast Section and fifth at the State Meet, wonderful credentials all. In most years they would have been the toast of the town but for that 1994 season the CVHS girls cross country team was even better as they were undefeated all season capped by winning the CIF State Division III championship. For these honors both teams are inductees at the 2013 CVHS Hall of Fame. The girls team included, bottom from left, Sarah Frieberg, Deborah Osteen; top row, Louise Indrisie, Marcella Villalobos, Deborah Osteen, Kelly Howisey and Heather Wallace.

Clayton Valley High School Athletic Hall of Fame Athletes

Class of 2013 Inductees

Nicole McAlister Anderson – 1993-Basketball, Track Darren Baldwin – 1990 – Water Polo, Swimming Kasey Harris Beckman – 1997 – Water Polo, Swimming Becky Fredlund Crosswhite – 1994 – Soccer, Track Kelly Howisey Kunzman – 1997 – Cross Country, Track Damon Mashore – 1988 – Football, Baseball Justin Mashore – 1991 – Football, Baseball Carl Massey – 1969 – Football, Basketball, Baseball Michelle Barrier McGuire – 1985 – Cross Country, Track Ron Olson – 1970 – Basketball, Baseball (Posthumous induction)

Sports Shorts SPRING YOUTH, ADULT PROGRAM SIGNUPS NOW AT CLAYTON GYM Spring youth basketball academy for boys and girls of all skill levels in first through ninth grades is returning to Clayton Community Gym for seven Fridays starting Mar. 15. Signups are also being taken for spring youth volleyball league, which will run on Saturdays from Mar. 2-April 20 for ages 8-16. Adult volleyball league begins a seven-week Thursday night season Mar. 21 and runs through May 2. Youth Tee-ball league for ages 3-5 is Mar. 16-Apr. 27. Registration deadline for these programs is Feb. 25. For more information or to register for any program offered by All Out Sports at the gym, visit alloutsportsleague-clayton.com.

WAITLIST SPRING SIGNUPS FOR MT. DIABLO SOCCER TAKEN ONLINE Mt. Diablo Soccer is still accepting applications for its spring program which begins in March. Players who participated in the fall season are charged only $50 for spring. Boys and girls 4 to 18 years of age can take part. Under 12 and older divisions in spring league are co-ed. Spring league ends in mid-May and is generally less formal than fall with players getting the opportunity to play soccer without any post-season playoff pressure. Email any questions to spring@mdsoccer.org. Players registering now will be placed on wait list at mdsoccer.org.

DANA HILLS SWIM TEAM REGISTRATION ONLINE City Meet champion Dana Hills Swim Team early registration for the 2013 opens online this Saturday, Feb. 23. For complete information visit danahillsotters.com.

OAKHURST ORCAS SIGNUPS FOR SWIM SEASON FEB. 27, MAR. 24

Jason Rogers photos

SENIOR KAYLA FJELBO (left) tries to outgrab junior Trisa Nguyen (aka TGooch)y in a Powder Puff football game at Clayton Valley Charter.

SENIOR NICKI SIMS can’t get away from the tackle of track star Sarah Holt for the junior team in a Powder Puff football game.

Store) or by sending a check ($50) to CVHS Hall of Fame, P.O. Box 842, Clayton, CA 94517.

Head coach Jasmine Millan announced that registration days for the Oakhurst Country Club recreation summer swim team will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 27, from 7-8 p.m. and Sunday, Mar. 24, from 2-3 p.m. Parents will have the opportunity to meet the coaches and their coaching philosophy and learn about practice dates and times. For more information email coach Millan at swimcoach@oakhurstcc.com.

Melanie Turner – 1998 – Basketball, Volleyball Sam Williams – 1998 – Football, Volleyball Jim Wyles – 1992 – Water Polo, Swimming

Coaches Tom DiMercurio – Football, Baseball, Tennis – 1960s-1990s John Millar – Track, Cross Country, Soccer – 1980s2003

Teams 1977 Baseball 1994 Boys Cross Country 1994 Girls Cross Country 1998 Girls Basketball Community Leadership Debra and Steve Gonsalves

19TH CVCHS CRAB FEED & AUCTION MAR. 16 Clayton Valley Charter High School Athletic Boosters will hold their 19th annual Crab Feed and Auction on Saturday, Mar. 16, at Centre Concord. Tickets are sold on a first come, first served basis and the popular event always sells out. Must be 21 or older to attend. For more info email cvabcrabfeed@gmail.com or go to cvhsboosters.org to order tickets.

SUPPLEMENTAL DIABLO FC U9-U14 COMPETITIVE SOCCER TRYOUTS CONTINUE Diablo FC is now aligned with the San Jose Earthquakes and is holding supplemental tryouts for the 2013 competitive soccer season for under 9 through under 14 girls and boys competitive teams. Those who missed earlier tryouts can register today at diablofc.org and the appropriate age group coach will contact the player about an evaluation. U15-U18 team tryouts will be held in April and those age groups can register for free tryouts now at diablofc.org.

AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA SKIPPING CLAYTON Changing direction for the first time in its eight-year history from south to north, America’s largest and most prestigious professional cycling stage race, the 2013 Amgen Tour of California, will not be rolling through downtown Clayton as it did last year. The 750-mile course features Stage 7 on May 18 that will go from Livermore to the peak of Mt. Diablo in the stage most experts expect will determine the race winner. Stage 7 will include cycling over Morgan Territory Rd. for the first time as the riders prepare for the climb to the 3,864-foot peak of Mt. Diablo to conclude the 92-mile route. The race finishes the next day in a stage from San Francisco to Santa Rosa across the Golden Gate Bridge.

CONCORD ADULT SOFTBALL REGISTRATION ENDS MAR. 1 Team registrations are now being accepted for Concord spring and summer adult softball leagues. Men’s, women’s and co-ed divisions are offered on various nights throughout the week, Sunday through Friday. Concord softball’s spring league is a four-game mini-practice series in March and is open to teams registered for the summer league. Summer league is a 12-game league season. Registration deadline is March 1. Registration and information packets are available at Willow Pass Community Center, 2748 E. Olivera Rd. at the corner of Salvio and E. Olivera, on-line at cityofconcord.org/softball or by calling the adult sports office at (925) 671-3279. To join a team, call the adult sports office to be placed on the free agent list.

February 22, 2013

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page 11

Sports

Clayton Valley Charter, Diablo FC seniors make college commitments JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

Nearly 20 high school seniors with local ties made their choice of college official on National Letter of Intent Day Feb. 6 including six Clayton Valley High School athletes. A gathering of parents, coaches, classmates and school officials gathered in the girls gymnasium at CVCHS for a lunchtime ceremony where five seniors signed their official NLI form that commits them to a college. Softball teammates outfielder Kierra Willis is going to Fresno State and shortstop Jacee Almond is headed to Bucknell University in Pennsylvania. Taylor Ryle will follow recent former Eagle athletes Derek Anderson and Johnny Bekakis to Long Beach State to continue her water polo career. Football star Joe Protheroe, who racked up records and post-season laurels for the North Coast Section champion Eagles football team in the fall, is going to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Head coach Tim Murphy called Cal Poly a “perfect match” for Protheroe, who selected the Mustangs because of “the coaching staff, the team, the education and the atmosphere.” All-America Cal Poly slotback Deonte Williams is headed to an expected NFL career, leaving major ball carrying duties open for Protheroe to compete for in the fall. Two other Clayton Valley seniors will be playing college soccer this fall. Sam Boeger is headed to Chico State and Jasmine Bandayrel, who was not at the ceremony, will be with the San Francisco Academy of Arts team. Both play club soccer for Diablo FC 94, a U17 girls team which reached the US Club Soccer National Cup XI tournament in Chicago last summer. Jasmine’s twin sister Janelle Bandayrel will be playing at City College of San Francisco in the fall. Also on the Diablo FC 94 squad is Carondelet senior

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FIVE CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS SIGNED THEIR NATIONAL LETTERS OF INTENT on Feb. 6, committing to their colleges for the fall. Putting their pen to paper were, from left, Kierra Willis (Fresno State softball), Sam Boeger (Chico State soccer), Joe Protheroe (Cal Poly SLO football), Jacee Almond (Bucknell softball) and Taylor Ryle (Long Beach State water polo). Also committing from the Class of 2013 is Jasmine Bandayrel to San Francisco Academy of the Arts soccer.

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League champion Matt McCoy seeks higher honors at NCS wrestling meet Senior Matt McCoy is pursuing his dream of reaching and then winning the State CIF wrestling championship in Bakersfield but he is also leading by example for the Clayton Valley Charter High School squad that took second last week when it hosted the Diablo Valley Athletic League championships in Dan Della Memorial Gymnasium. McCoy placed fifth last year in the North Coast Section meet and he hopes to do better this weekend when he takes his DVAL 140-pound to the mat in the section meet at Newark Memorial High. The top three wrestlers from NCS qualify for the State Meet at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield Mar. 1-2. CVCHS coach Kyle Behmlander has taken Eagles to the last two State Meets. In the DVAL finals McCoy pinned Alec Sluser of Northgate right before the end of the first round for his second league title. McCoy was a league champion as a sophomore in 2011, took sec-

ond last year and was third in 2010 as a freshman. “I just go out there like I’m wrestling a state champion,” McCoy told the Contra Costa Times after the meet. “Every time I go out there, I wrestle the same way, like it’s a big match every time.” Joining McCoy as league champs were sophomores Mustafa Sherdil (115) and Lorenzo Yacarini (128), all three by pins. “It was good to see some of the younger guys wrestle well and have some fun out there,” McCoy added. College Park won the DVAL team title with the Eagles second, barely edging Northgate for runner-up honors. Three other Clayton Valley Charter wrestlers were defeated in the DVAL championship match. Finalists Jesse Davis (134), Michael Nocerino (147) and Jacob Lynch (154) will be moving on to NCS as will thirdplace finishers Kyle Tran (108) and Dakohta Cramer (172).

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MATT MCCOY WON HIS SECOND DVAL WRESTLING TITLE last week on his Clayton Valley Charter High School home mat and this weekend is hoping to add a North Coast Section crown to his resume. Finishing in the top three at NCS will allow the senior to advance to the CIF State Meet Mar. 1-2 in Bakersfield.

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Eagles girls reach playoffs, boys don’t JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

Clayton Valley Charter High School teams have had great success qualifying for North Coast Section end-of-the-season competition over the past five years since they rejoined the Diablo Valley Athletic League. This winter the Eagle girls basketball and soccer teams continued that trend while the boys squads fell short of matching recent achievements. Coach Scott Booths soccer

squad slipped into the NCS playoffs for the eighth successive year as the 14th seed and was quickly dispatched 2-0 at #3 Berkeley. The girls Division 1 playoffs held to form with the top four seeds reaching this week’s semi-finals. DVAL champion College Park won its first game before also losing to the Yellowjackets in the quarterfinals. With girls soccer eliminated and the boys teams not getting to “The Show” it’s up to CVCHS girls basketball to carry the Eagles torch.

Jason Rogers photo

IT WAS A LONG TIME COMING but the inexperienced Clayton Valley Charter High boys soccer team edged crosstown rival Mt. Diablo 2-1 on Senior Night for the Eagles’ first victory of the 2012-13 season. Junior midfielder Rey Velete (21) battles a Red Devil opponent in the season finale as the Eagles reversed a 3-0 setback to MD earlier in the DVAL season.

Coach Bernard Barnes’ cagers hopefully have a sense of déjà vu about this season. In the 2010-2011 campaign the Eagles went on a 19-game winning streak from December through the end of the league season and received the #2 seed in the NCS playoffs. The Eagles won their first two section playoff games, dropped a heartbreaker to top seeded Dougherty Valley in the finals yet were given a berth in the Northern California playoffs for the first time since 1998 when the school won its only NCS crown. This year the Eagles struggled against non-section opposition and a loss to Reno’s undefeated Bishop Manogue in the West Coast Jamboree Dec. 29 dropped their record to 8-6. Since then they have run off 12 straight DVAL wins and earned the No. 2 seed behind defending NCS Division II champion Carondelet, which has won DII eight of the past 10 years. Senior Ashley Allen and sophomore Hailey Pascoe have led the way for the Eagles. Allen, seemingly fully recovered from an injury that essentially eliminated her junior season, leads the team in scoring with 18.3

points per game while Pascoe is second at 13.6. The duo accounted for just over half the CVCHS points this year. Allen also leads the team in rebounds, assists and blocked shots. Junior Kayla Taylor has been strong offensively, averaging just a touch under double figures, and also on the boards. In the DII playoffs there are five teams that CVCHS has a perfect 7-0 record against. The bad news is that all but one of them is in the opposite bracket. The Eagles 20-6 record earned them a first-round bye and they will host the winner of the Casa Grande-Petaluma vs. Washington-Fremont game this Friday evening at 7 p.m. in Dan Della Memorial Gym. CVCHS hopes to win that game and gain another home matchup next Wednesday, Feb. 27. The NCS finals will be either Mar. 1 or 2. NorCal Championships begin Mar. 6. The boys basketball team of Troy Sullivan was in the mix for a playoff berth with a 6-2 DVAL record before finishing the season with four consecutive losses as undefeated College Park won the title by two games over runner-up Concord High.

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Tax Time . . .

February 22, 2013

Diablo FC U11 girls soccer teams both take their NorCal Premier State Cup division championships

More fiscal cliff woes. Some employers were caught by the retroactive changes Congress made to 2012 taxes. An example is transportation benefits. As a result some employers are delaying issuing W-2’s for wages earned or are sending out form W-2c (C for corrected). Watch for those. To get your taxes prepared free contact the AARP program or the IRS sponsored VITA program. The VITA program is limited to those who have earnings of less than $51,000. The nearest location is 3540 Chestnut Avenue in Concord. Call 925-825-3099 for an appointment. For those with complicated taxes who are planning to change tax preparers be sure to take three to four years of tax returns to your appointment as you may have some suspended losses (for example on rental properties) that you can use to offset taxes owed in 2012. Some carryovers have been legislated in and then out, then in again and confusion in this area is common.

JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

State Cup competition is wrapping up for Northern California US Club Soccer under 9 through U13 teams and three young girls teams from Diablo FC have claimed division titles in the NorCal Premier competition that began at the end of last summer with seeding games. Most recently, the Diablo FC 01 girls of coach Miguel Gonzalez claimed the Premier 1 championship for U11 girls with a 4-1 victory over Ajax United Premier in the State Cup finale. The championship match in Turlock didn’t start too well for the local team as they gave up an unfortunate own goal to fall behind. That seemed to kick start the Diablo FC girls into action and goalkeeper Sophia Salimpour’s long punt downfield was converted into the tying goal by right forward Kelly Kern with a header. A corner kick by right back Brianna Murray was converted

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by Carissa Capinpin into the goahead goal and the 01 girls never looked back. Two other goals by striker Alexus Zandonella-Arasa capped the dominating performance on both sides of the ball by the DFC U11 girls premier team. In the quarterfinals Diablo FC 01 defeated Sonoma County Alliance 3-1 and then beat Odyssey 01 Red 2-1 in the semifinals. Their sister team Diablo FC 01 Blue won their State Cup Bronze 1 division in December. Clayton’s Jack Boeger coached the team to three consecutive shutout wins starting with a 3-0 victory over Walnut Creek Rampage. In the semi-finals El Dorado Strikers were on the short end of a 7-0 scoreline before 01 Blue capped their State Cup run with a 1-0 victory over Mustang Angels. Earlier in their first season together Diablo FC 01 Blue was a finalist at Cal Cup in Sacramento and champions at Summer Challenge. Diablo FC 00 girls of coach Lewis Woodward lost in the U12 quarterfinals of the NorCal State Cup Premier top flight to San Juan Lightning. The U13 Diablo FC 99 girls coached by Richard

Photo courtesy Diablo FC

COACH MIGUEL GONZALEZ LED HIS DIABLO FC 01 TEAM to the Premier Division championship in the NorCal Premier State Cup earlier this month. Diablo FC 01 includes, bottom, goalkeeper Sophia Salimpour; front row from left, Carly Oshel, Natalia Leroux, Alexus Zandonella-Arasa, Allison Hair, Courtney Silva, Julia Betti, Brianna Murray; back row, coach Gonzalez, Sarah Smith, Darby Dresdow, Carissa Capinpin, Kelly Kern and assistant coach Aaron Silva.

Weiszmann were edged 1-0 by West Coast SC Wildfire in quarterfinals of the U13 State Cup State 2, second highest flight in the tournament.

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CARONDELET SENIOR MELANIE HINES of Clayton will be taking her soccer skills to Sonoma State this fall. She is one of over a dozen Diablo FC club players to make college commitments recently.

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Unlike the older cars, today’s cars have wind deflectors under the engine. This gives them better air dynamics and a place for fluids to gather. So if a leak does develop it may take time for it to reach the ground, and if not noticed right a way a leak can lead to big problems. Here’s an example: a coolant leak may go unnoticed until the engine overheats, causing possible head gasket damage, so now not only the radiator hose needs replacing (small problem) but the head gaskets need replacing (big problem) as well. Or, say

the fan belt is worn and splitting. On today’s cars this belt can run the power steering pump, the alternator, and water pump as well. If it breaks and you’re driving, you will lose these functions and this can cause engine damage. So basically, a short stop by the service provider between oil changes can help prevent problems that might leave you stranded on the road. Gary Taylor is service manager at Clayton Valley Shell. Call him with questions at (925) 672-3900

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Melanie Hines who will be off to Sonoma State. Hines is a former defensive player of the year at Carondelet and began playing soccer for the local competitive club at eight-years-old with Boeger. Among their Diablo FC teammates also signing NLI were Daisy Bonilla (UC Merced where Clayton’s own Megan Swann Atoigue is the head coach of the Bobcats), Brianna Rosselli (San Francisco State University), Linnea Wikander (UC San Diego) and Larissa Rodrigues (Holy Names University). Mackie Delorefice from Diablo FC 95 is going to be joining Boeger at Chico State. A few other Diablo FC 94 players, including Sofia Martinez, are still mulling over their choices. On the boys side, Diablo FC has a pair of players going to St. Mary’s College for coach Adam Cooper of Concord. De La Salle High goalkeeper Andrew Konstantino and his Diablo FC 95 teammate Nathan Grixti will be Gaels. Edgar Damian from Diablo FC 95 boys is headed to Cal State University Dominquez Hills while 95 teammate Mikey Guerrero of De La Salle is still making a decision. From the Diablo FC 94 boys

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Clayton resident Scott Tomaszewicz helped his undefeated St. John Vianney third grade basketball team to the West Diablo National Division CYO championship defeating Santa Marina of Orinda 29-17 in the title game. Tomaszewicz attends Mt. Diablo Elementary. His St. John Vianney squad went 12-0 on the season, winning every league and playoff game. He is a forward on the basketball team and also plays in Clayton Valley Little League Minor A as well as tennis at Heather Farm Park.

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Six reasons for training your dog to sit Teaching a dog to sit is extremely valuable. Here are some of the reasons to train your dog to sit. Hopefully, they will help you to see why teaching your dog to sit is so important

dog has to stay until given permission to go through the door. If I’m going through the door with the dog, I start to go through first. This, again, reinforces my position as the one in charge, since dominant dogs will go through doors before more submissive dogs.

Reason 1: To stop a jumping dog Reason 4: To keep a dog safe at SUE SKIFF I teach all the dogs that street corners I work with to sit to get I have my dog sit before PET PALS my attention. Why? A dog crossing a street. This gets her in can’t sit and jump at the the habit of stopping before same time. If a dog knows that the way to going into a street, thus reducing the get attention is to sit, it will choose to sit, chances that she will run out into a street instead of jumping. It really impresses peo- should she ever get the chance. It also keeps ple that meet your dog, too. her calmer while waiting until it’s time to cross. Reason 2: To show that I’m in charge of food I train a dog to sit and stay while I feed Reason 5: To keep a dog calm it. This not only prevents it from jumping on I also like to have her sit while I am talkme during the feeding process, it also rein- ing to someone on a walk. This allows me to forces the idea that I am in charge by know where she is, and to know what she is reminding the dog that I am in control of its doing, without me having to continuously be access to the resource known as food. The watching her. latter is accomplished, because the dog has to stay until I put its food down, and release Reason 6: To control a game of fetch it to eat. I recommend that you train your dog to sit when it brings toys back to you in games Reason 3: To stop dogs from bolting of fetch. This will keep it from running To cut down on the chances that a dog around with the toys, and increases the likewill bolt through an open door, I teach it to lihood that it will bring the toy all the way to sit and stay while I open a door or gate. The you.

So, those are a few of the things that I use “sit” for when I am working with a dog. I trust that it helped you to understand the importance of this command. As for my dog Emma, she now sits whenever she wants something. All I have to do is figure out what she wants when she sits. Sue Skiff is the author of “How to Have a WellBehaved Dog,” and the owner/operator of Silver Lining Pet Services, a company which provides dog training and pet sitting services. Learn more at www.silverliningdogtrain.com or www.silverliningpetsitting.com. Email her at information@silverliningdogtrain.com

Robin Williams and Nina are ARF’s Stars Four-year-old Robin Williams is a typical poodle. Energetic and enthusiastic, he can’t wait to take on the world! His energy will be best managed with a regular exercise routine that stimulates both his mind and body. Robin Williams has a “go-get-’em”

spirit that would do best with an equally outgoing adopter. The adoption fee for adult dogs is $225 and includes 60 percent off one 7-week dog training session. Nina is a pretty, demure little 2-year old who likes gentle petting and attention. Once she is acclimated, you will find her to be affectionate and playful. Check out her lovely blue eyes! The adoption fee for adult cats is $50. Meet your forever friend at Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, during adoption hours: Noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday, 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and 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.

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Mayor, from page 1 Fire Station closure ad-hoc committee members David Shuey (Shuey@rankinlaw.com) and Jim Diaz (jimdiazclaytonci@gmail.com) are working to enlist the aid of the public in obtaining more information regarding fire district plans for regaining fire station operation, preparing plans for our community during non-operation of station and coping with delayed response times. If you would like to participate in these discussions, have suggestions, or want to be added to the contact list, please send them your name, best phone and email address.

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CVCHS SUCCESS CONTINUES This note is from CVCHS Executive Director Dave Linzey on Monday, Feb. 4: CVCHS “held our Public Random Drawing (lottery) for next year’s incoming students as we have nearly 700 applications for 550 seats available. At the lottery, parents and students literally cheered and cried when their name was drawn and they responded like they had “won the lottery!” Students placed on the waiting list to enter our school also cried as they feared they will not be able to attend our terrific high school.” I want to add my congratulations and a continuing “Thank You” to all the teachers, parents and residents who worked so hard to create and make our charter high school so success-

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ful. Our whole community is reaping the benefits. SPRING AROUND THE CORNER Our Clayton Road medians are looking good. Last fall’s renovations to Clayton Road have made a striking improvement to the appearance of the main entry into our town. In 2007, Clayton voters overwhelmingly passed Measure B, making our arterial landscaping and trail maintenance a priority. Measure B provided for the formation of a Trails and Landscape Committee (TLC) of up to 11 Clayton citizens to advise the city on maintenance, improvements and financial matters related to the district. The district has an annual budget to maintain the public roadway and median landscape areas, public open space and hillsides of the city, annual weed abatement, seasonal fire breaks, the

Clayton Fountain and trail system of the city. The city council appointed five new members to the TLC committee, bringing the membership to nine – there’s still room for two more volunteers. The TLC members are Anthony Chippero, Robert Erich, Donald Fitzgerald, Ryan Lowe, Harun Simbirdi, Alyse Smith, Clayton Smith, Robert Steiner and Ted Sudderth. The TLC committee of Clayton citizens has been diligent over the years, making sure our dollars are spent wisely and efficiently. The measure provided that capital projects would only be done on a payas-you-go basis as funds accumulated. We are now reaping the rewards of our patience for those improvements. As always, you can contact me by email at Julie_Pierce@comcast.net. Let me know what you think!

Page 14

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

February 22, 2013

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IN CLAYTON Mar. 3 Chili Cook-Off Contestants must register. Public can enjoy samples after winners announced. Prizes awarded at 1 p.m. Clayton Club Saloon, 6096 Main St., Clayton. claytonclubsaloon.com. 673-0440. Mar. 6 Caldecott Tunnel Fourth Bore-Tunneling Through Time Clayton Historical Society presents this program with Ivy Morrison, Caldecott Tunnel Fourth Bore Information Officer and Geologist Jim Allen. 7 p.m. Diamond Terrace, 6401 Center Street, Clayton. Free. Donations to support the Museum are welcome. 672-0240. Mar. 22 – 24 Creekside Arts Celebration Clayton Library’s 18th birthday and 10th annual benefit depicting 100 Years of Stories. Art sales, workshops, storytellers, poets, musicians, authors, art and nature tours, creek-side activities, cultural and environmental groups. Fri. 6 – 8 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sun. 12 – 5 p.m. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road. Free admission. Contact Arlene at akiksen@aol.com or 673-9777. claytonlibrary.org. First Thursdays Oakhurst Business Network Meets first Thursday of the month for social hour. Hosted hors d’oeuvres, cash bar. 5 – 7 p.m. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Drive, Clayton. oakhurstcc.com.

EVENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Thru Mar. 2 “Old Wicked Songs” Center REP performs this inspirational journey of two very different men, with music as a common bond, who must find a way to break through their pasts. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $33-$51. centerrep.org. 943-7469. Thru Mar. 2 “Singin’ in the Rain” Story of the first Hollywood movie musical. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $49-$53. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469. Thru Mar. 10 “The Fourth Messenger” What if the Buddha were a woman and alive today? This world premiere musical explores what it means to be both enlightened and human. The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave., Berkeley. $23$40. thefourthmessenger.com. Thru Mar. 24 “Disenchanted! Bitches of the Kingdom” A brand new, fun-loving, hilarious musical revue proving that happily-ever-after can be a royal pain in the ass! Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $25-$30. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469. Feb. 23 Parenting the Child with Special Needs Mini conference. 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Loma Vista Adult Center Multi-use Room, 1266 San Carlos Ave., Concord. Register at www.mdusd.k12.ca.us/adulted. Feb. 24 Contra Costa Camp Fair Find out about Summer Camps, daycare, preschool, sports and more. Acalanes High School, Lafayette. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. contracostacampfair.com. Feb. 28 – Mar. 24 “Othello” Shakespeare’s tragedy of falsehood, jealousy and revenge in this gender-reversed casting. Cue Productions Live, 1835 Colfax St., Concord. $12-$18. b8company.com. Mar. 1, 2 “The Web Ballet” The first dance work developed from suggestions on the internet. Shadelands Arts Center, 111 Wiget Lane, Walnut Creek. $19$37. diabloballet.org. Mar. 3 California Symphony San Francisco Symphony’s Donato Cabrera conducts Beethoven. 4 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $65. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469. Mar. 5 Diablo Wind Symphony In concert. 8 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $4-$10. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469. Mar. 5 – 9 Percussion Discussion Smashing spectacle of drums, cowbells, chairs and more

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presented by Ken Bergmann. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $13. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469. Mar. 7 – 24 “The Foreigner” Comedy revolving around two guests at a resort-style fishing lodge in rural Georgia. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $20-$30. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469. Mar. 9 House of Floyd Performs the music of Pink Floyd. 8 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $40-$45. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469. Mar. 10 Chamber Music SF Violinist Sarah Chang in recital. 2 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $33-$66. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469. Mar. 10 Contra Costa Wind Symphony An Irish celebration concert. 7:30 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $10-$25. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469. Mar. 12 Walnut Creek Concert Band Spring concert, “Songs and Dances.” 7:30 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $12-$17. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469. Mar. 14 - 17 “Jack and the Beanstalk” This giant of an adventure tale will grow before your eyes. Fantasy Forum Actors Ensemble. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $14. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469. Mar. 16 “The Sorcerer” Young Alexis hires a sorcerer to spike the punch at his engagement party with a love potion. Lamplighters Music Theatre. 8 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $25$49. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469. Mar. 17 Mount Diablo Join naturalist Michael Marchiano as he presents a photo collection of diverse plants and flowers found on Mount Diablo. Continuous from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Summit Audio Visual Room, Mount Diablo. mdia.org. Mar. 22 – Apr. 21 “The Sound of Music” Performed by Contra Costa Musical Theatre. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $40-$49. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469. Mar. 28, April 4 Getting on the Air Two-part seminar to develop your amateur radio license gettingon-the-air skills. Held by Salvation Army and Mt. Diablo Amateur Radio Club. 7 – 9 p.m. Salvation Army, 3950 Clayton Road, Concord. Class is free. $5 materials fee. Registration required. hamradioclass@gmail.com.

CHURCHES AND RELIGION Mar. 2, 9 Emergency Disaster Service Courses Entry level courses to become Certified Volunteer. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Free. The Salvation Army, 3950 Clayton Road, Concord. Registration required. concordcanteen@gmail.com. Mar. 3, 10, 17 Couples Workshop Covers financial aspects of retirement planning and how to speak effectively with your spouse about retirement concerns. 12 – 2 p.m. Clayton Valley Presbyterian Church, 1578 Kirker Pass Road. Free. Registration required. michaelginsberg.com. 287-8400.

FUNDRAISERS Mar. 2 Crab Feed Concord High School Choir Crab Feed. 6 – 11 p.m. Centre Concord, 5298 Clayton Road, Concord. $45 per person; $400 table of 10. Buy tickets by Feb. 22. Contact Rolynne Manalac at chschoirtickets@gmail.com or 788-9456. Mar. 16 Crab Feed CVCHS Athletic Boosters Club Annual Crab Feed. 5:30 p.m. Centre Concord, 5298 Clayton Road, Concord. 21 and over only. $50 before Mar. 8; $60 after. No tickets at the door. cvhsboosters.org/webstore.

calendar@claytonpioneer.com

Mar. 22 Blood Drive Mallory Landers blood drive in memory of her grandmother. 12:30 – 6:30 p.m. Diablo View Middle School, 300 Diablo View Lane, Clayton. redcrossblood.org/donating-blood. Code word: mallorysgrandmother. Apr. 27 Festival/Fashion Clayton Valley Woman’s Club presents their eighth annual Festival of Tables and Fashion fundraiser. 11 a.m. Concord United Methodist Church, 1645 West St., Concord. Reserve early. $35. Call Kathy Olson 524-0641.

AT THE LIBRARY The Clayton Library is at 6125 Clayton Road. Programs are free unless otherwise noted. claytonlibrary.org or 673-0659. Tuesdays thru Mar. 5 Patty Cakes Story time for babies to 3-year-olds. Child attends with caregiver. 11 a.m. Wednesdays Book Buddies A volunteer will read stories for children 3 and older. 1 - 2 p.m. Call in advance. Thursdays thru Mar. 7 Picture Book Time Story time for 3- to 5-year-olds. Child may attend without caregiver. 11 a.m. Sundays thru Feb. 24 Computer Science Club Introduction to computer science for high school students. Led by Mike Fine, veteran in technology industry and member of Curriculum and Instruction Committee at CVCHS. 1 – 2:30 p.m. Contact michaelcfine@gmail.com for more information. Thru Mar. 2 Chill Out and Read For K through 2nd graders. Pick up reading record, read 10 books and return for a prize. Dr. Seuss read-in on Mar. 2 from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Feb. 27 Clayton Library 101: An Introduction Doug Thomas, library assistant, gives a brief presentation and answers questions about how to find the information you are looking for at the library. 7 p.m. Registration required at ccclib.org or 673-0659. Mar. 5, 12, 19, 26, Apr. 9 Paws to Read Learn to read aloud by reading to a dog. Grades 1 – 5. Registration required. 4 or 4:35 p.m. Mar. 11 Clayton Library Book Club Sunny Solomon leads the discussion of “The Snow Child” by Eowyn Ivey. Open to anyone who would like to join. 7 p.m. Mar. 11 Comics Comic book artist Oliver Chin will teach you how to draw your own comics. Best for ages 6 – 11. 4 p.m. Register through library. Mar. 13 CERT Emergency preparedness seminar. Learn what to have on hand, develop an escape plan, know what goes in a Go Bag. 7–9 p.m. The Concord Library is at 2900 Salvio St. 646-5455. Mar. 11 LEGO and Listen Come and build with LEGO blocks while listening to a recorded book. Ages 6 – 12. Registration required. 7 p.m. Dori DeCommer 646-5455.

GOVERNMENT 1st and 3rd Tuesdays Clayton City Council 7 p.m. Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 6737304 or ci.clayton.ca.us. 2nd and 4th Tuesdays Clayton Planning Commission 7 p.m., Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 6737304 or ci.clayton.ca.us.

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

February 22, 2013

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page 15

Club News CBCA sets big goals for 2013 GARY CARR Special to the Pioneer

Coming off a successful 2012, the Clayton Business and Community Association plans to put up some big numbers again this year. At the Jan. 31 meeting held at Oakhurst Country Club, CBCA Treasurer John Garrett reported that the club donated more than $99,000 to various Clayton community

programs last year, with hopes to surpass that total in 2013. According to Club President Keith Haydon, CBCA’s increased level of community support will depend on the success of traditional fundraising events like the Art & Wine Festival, Oktoberfest and the Clayton Classic Golf Tournament. Special guests at the Jan. 31 meeting included the new

Clayton Police Chief, Chris Thorsen, who continued the tradition of explaining the lighter side of police work to CBCA members. Also speaking briefly was Pastor Shawn Robinson of the Clayton Community Church. Robinson was there to help bury the hatchet after several contentious years of negotiating with the city over development of the church ion Main Street.

Creekside Arts call for artists CREEKSIDE ARTS 2013! Call for … *Artists * Musicians * Authors * Poets * Storytellers * *Environmental & Community Groups! The Clayton Community Library Foundation is seeking participants for its 10th annual Creekside Arts Celebration as the library celebrates its 18th anniversary. This year’s theme, “100 Years of Stories,” also honors the Contra Costa County system for providing stories for the community since 1913. Admission is free. Fee for entrants. Sales benefit the Foundation in their exploration of the arts, culture and nature while supporting environmental education programs in the library’s certified creekside wildlife habitat. Entertainment for all ages includes interactive workshops in visual and performing arts, art sales, cultural performances, storytelling, poetry, authors, illustrators and music, environmental education groups and guided nature, cul-

SUSAN PACE-KOCH, CHILDREN’S AUTHOR and Bay Area Independent Publishers Association award winner, is a new presenter at this year’s Creekside Arts Celebration.

ture and art tours throughout downtown Clayton. Awards will be presented to artists who creatively interpret this year’s theme juried by new juror Elizabeth Tuck, president of California Writers Club, Mount Diablo branch, and the Arts and Culture Commission of Contra Costa County. People’s Choice Awards will be given. Highlighted will be the everpopular Jim Hale, renowned wildlife biologist and ethnobotanist; Tazuo Yamaguchi, national award-winning poet, will lead both a workshop and open poetry readings; and Susan

Pace-Koch will present story boarding techniques. New musical jam sessions include: African, Cuban drumming and returning ukulele jam. For entry forms, go to claytonlibrary.org. Submission deadline is March 15. For more information, contact Arlene Kikkawa-Nielsen, Event Director, 673-9777 or akiksen@aol.com. The event is Friday, March 22, from 6 to 8 p.m.; Saturday, March 23, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, March 24, from 12 to 5 p.m. The weekend event is at the Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road.

Now that the church has sold the Main Street property to the city and found another site, tensions have evaporated. Robinson declared that the outcome “has restored our faith in the goodwill of this community.” “Now I can get back to my real job – trying to get people to go to church,” he said. Once again, a generous amount has been budgeted for college scholarships, according to Scholarship Committee Chair Ed Hartley. The five-person committee will make awards in three categories: Academic Scholarships, open to any student residing in the 94517 zip code; Community Service Scholarships, open only to students at Clayton Valley Charter High School, and Arts & Music Scholarships, open to anyone in 94517. Deadline for applications is April 15, with no extensions, Hartley emphasized. Two donation requests were voted on and approved at the meeting. The CVCHS baseball team was granted the funds for a new pitching machine and batting cage. In return for the donation, team members and their parents will volunteer to help at CBCA events like the Art & Wine Festival, scheduled this year for May 4 and 5 and Oktoberfest, scheduled for Oct. 5 and 6. Also, a donation was approved for the St. Bonaventure Community Food Pantry. Earlier the Clayton Valley Garden Club was granted funds for its “Blossoms for Barbara” project, which provides flowering plants to shut-ins and those in hospice care during the Valentine’s Day holiday.

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CBCA exists to benefit the entire Clayton community through fundraising activities and other events. To join CBCA or to volunteer for an event, call 925-672-2272 or visit www.claytoncbca.org.

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DESIGN & DÉCOR Creating a color scheme for a living space is a lot like getting dressed for a night out on the town. You select colors that reflect your personality and the mood of the evening, classic patterns that enhance your physique, with accent colors that woo. If you need a little color inspiration for any of your living spaces, your wardrobe may contain a plethora of ideas to get you moving. STEP ONE: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE COLOR? You might know this by heart, or maybe you need to spend some quality time with your closet to see what’s actually in there. Maybe it’s not one single color that you’re drawn to, but rather a grouping of warm tones like reds, yellows and oranges. Or cool tones like blues, greens and violets. Maybe the foundation of your wardrobe consists of charcoal gray or chocolate, with hints of metallics or jewel tones. Whatever your personal color pallet is, think about your colors as it translates to your home; an anchor color for your sofa, a

secondary color for lounge chairs, and accessory colors for window treatments, pillows, and area rugs. STEP TWO: BE THOUGHTFUL OF PATTERNS. How do you know what fabric patterns work well together? In your closet you have a pair of brown herringbone textured pants that look perfect with your pale brown and ivory animal print sweater. And you also have a pair of mini stripe, toneon-tone blue pants that you love to wear with your multi-colored floral blouse. Both outfits are perfect. The colors complement each other and the patterns, while all different, work well because the scale of each pattern is appropriate; one is not overwhelming with the other. These same design principles can be applied to a living space. For example, consider using a multi-colored woven fabric to upholster your great room sofa. Woven fabrics tend to have more than one color, so coordinating with other colors is really

easy, like a multi-colored plaid fabric for a pair of lounge chairs, and a two-toned striped fabric for the window coverings, with hints of geometric patterns for pillows. If you keep your fabric colors in the same family and pay close attention to fabric pattern scale, you’ll end up with a really festive looking living space. STEP THREE: BRING THE DRESSING ROOM HOME. If you don’t try on the dress, how will you know if it’s going to fit? Same goes for your living space; if you don’t bring home the fabric samples, window coverings, pillows, or bed coverings, how will you know if the colors and style are right for your living space? Color is really tricky. It can change on you in a flash. You have to see fabric colors and patterns in your living space to know if the color will work in the natural light of your living space. Same with patterns, what might look chic at the store, may not be quite right for your living space.

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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Page 16

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

February 22, 2013

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Concord theatre company puts new spin on Shakespeare classic Butterfield 8 theatre in downtown Concord may be small in size, but when it comes to giving a modern spin to the old classics, the company backs away from no challenge. Next month, the company will present a new and exciting twist on Shakespeare’s “Othello” when they “gender-bend” this classic tale of falsehood, jealousy and revenge. All of the male roles will be portrayed by women and the female roles are played by men. “Gender has always been a topic that fascinates me,” says Company Artistic Director John Butterfield. Last season, the company did tandem productions of “Twelfth Night” in repertory; one with an all male and the other with an all female cast. “What became clear to me

was how much freedom it allowed both casts. The actors made choices, bold ones, in directions I had never seen them go before.” The small space on Colfax brings the performers very close to the audience. “Kissing-close is not an exaggeration,” says Butterfield. “We are not asking the audience to overlook the switch of genders, but only to see how the switch informs the work.” Performances begin with a preview on Feb. 28 and run through Mar. 24. The opening night gala which includes a post show reception is on Mar. 1. For a complete list of performances and ticket information, go to www.b8company.com or call (925) 687-4220. All performances are at Cue Productions Live, 1835 Colfax St., Concord.

Photo: Judy Potter

IAGO (KERRY GUDJOHNSEN, RIGHT) TRIES TO CONVINCE OTHELLO (Sam Selliman, left) his wife is unfaithful in Butterfield 8’s production of OTHELLO opening Feb. 28.

Book Review

‘Good Prose’ isn’t just good, it’s essential The subtitle to Tracy Kidder and Richard Todd’s “Good Prose” is “The Art of Nonfiction, Stories and Advice from a Lifetime of Writing and Editing.” Kidder is an author probably recognized by a majority of Clayton Pioneer readers, but Todd, Kidder’s editor of more than 40 years, is just as likely not. I can assure you that after reading “Good Prose” you will remember both names in a special way. “Good Prose” is not a “how-to” book for aspiring writers, although it’s a book I’d highly recommend to aspiring writers. It is a memoir of the relationship of two men, one the writer, the other the editor. Kidder shares his earliest

nonfiction books published by Atlantic Press, and his novel, also published by the magazine. I requested a review copy of this book because I thought it would be a good one for writers, but the more I read, the more I realized “Good Prose” is the perfect book for anybody who likes to read. The examples of writing that both authors cite go far beyond Kidder’s own work, and the table of contents should interest anyone who loves to read fiction or nonfiction, newspapers or magazines. Take a look: 1. Beginnings; 2. Narratives; 3. Memoirs; 4. Essays; 5. Beyond Accuracy; 6. The Problem of Style; 7. Art and Commerce; 8. Being Edited and Editing.

SUNNY SOLOMON FOR THE BOOKS attempts to get his work accepted at “The Atlantic” magazine under the guidance and perseverance of Todd, the editor assigned to him. Over the years, Todd has worked with Kidder on nonfiction magazine pieces,

For those of us who love to read and not only read, but love to talk about what we’ve just read, Kidder and Todd have written a litmus test for recognizing good writing. What makes this book so appealing is its accessibility. One does not need an academic background to sit down and become thoroughly engrossed. Within each chapter are quotes and references to a wide variety of books and authors; the content of the Index is impressive. The authors address the profusion of Internet blogs, written in breezy, lighthearted styles, in Chapter 6: “The new vernacular imitates spontaneity but sounds

See Books, page 18

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FASHION OVER 50 Normally, we think of Easter-egg colors for spring, but this year there’s a focus on black

and white. (Okay there are a few floral prints, too.) Appropriate to wear year-round and easy to pull off on any budget, this trend is definitely wearable. A trend that’s not so wearable is the daring cut-out, midriff-baring, sheer fabric looks that are all over the runway. We’ll leave that one to those who walk the red carpet and some porn stars. Comfy jeans and a white shirt replace over-complicated separates. Statement sunglasses in every shape, color and size are a fun addition. Big, bold stripes are everywhere. In

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denim, they’re allAmerican; in navy, they’re nautical; and when done vertically, they’re oh-so-slimming. Luxe leather is carried over from winter in minimalistic shapes and rich colors. After fall’s love affair with brocade, fur and embellishment, it’s no surprise that beading shows up on everything from teeshirts to evening gowns. Pointy-toed flats and low heels are a welcome change to

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sky-high stilettos. Colorful silk head scarves replace hats for a lighter look. Here are a few spring trends to spice up your cosmetic bag: Eyes: Step out of your comfort zone with a thin line of colored eyeliner – emerald green looks great with any eye color. Lips: While bold colors aren’t going anywhere, they’re becoming more matte. Nars Pure Matte Lipstick in Mascate works well on light or dark skin tones. This ultra-matte, super rich lipstick moisturizes and soothes lips while depositing vivid, dramatic color. Nails: After a deluge of nail art, we’re embracing paler polish shades for spring. And last, having nothing to do with spring, I just discovered undies with a secret. I’m talking about incontinence panties! Looking and feeling like traditional underwear, the range of styles include an absorbent sewn-in pad that traps liquid and is treated with odor eliminating fibers. More economical than disposables, they are good for 200-250 washes. No more worries about coughing or laughing too hard. They have them for men, too. Check them out at www.weareverincontinence.com Live long and pester! Judith Marshall is the author of “Husbands May Come and Go but Friends are Forever,” available on Amazon.

February 22, 2013

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page 17

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FOOD

FOR

THOUGHT

It’s the season for kale, a member of the cabbage (brassica oleracea) family, along with its cousins kohlrabi, cauliflower, broccoli and Brussels sprouts. It’s thought that kale was probably the original form of cabbage which was then selected over time for tighter leaf formations until heads of leaves formed as in cabbage and Brussels sprouts. Kale was originally cultivated in Asia Minor more than 2,000 years ago. During the Middle Ages, kale was the most popular green vegetable eaten in Europe. This is probably due to its resistance to frost but it also does well in hot weather and poor soils. The leafy greens are found in many Scandinavian, Dutch, Belgian, Scottish and Irish dishes. Among the Celtic people, kale is associated with Halloween and included in colcannon, a potato dish traditionally served on Irish tables that day. English settlers introduced the vegetable to America. It is

“ Let Us Light Up Your Life” Residential

a favorite in the Southern U.S. where as part of braised greens it is considered a poor man’s food. One cup of kale provides more than the daily minimum requirement for Vitamins A and C and it is a good source of calcium of fiber. The latter characteristics means that kale is often recommended to help cleanse the digestive system after a season of overindulgence. Kale has long ruffled edges and green hues sometimes tinged with lavender and light green. The really dark version of kale goes by many names: dinosaur kale, Tuscan kale, Lacinato kale, black kale and cavolo nero. This version has hearty leaves that retain a nice firm texture. Kale can be prepared rather simply in a quick sauté with a little olive oil, salt and herbs such as rosemary or thyme. One of the popular dishes

in Italy is a bean and kale stew. Here is a simple version of this delicious soup: TUSCAN BEAN AND KALE SOUP Serves 6 2 carrots, peeled and sliced ½ cup sliced celery 1 onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, finely minced 1 lb. kale (preferably dinosaur), cleaned and cut into thin slices about 2-inches long 2 zucchini, cut into quarters and chopped 2 Tbsp. olive oil ½ tsp. dried thyme 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes 2 cups vegetable broth 2 cans (15 oz) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed Salt and pepper to taste Heat a soup pot over medium high heat. Add the olive oil, carrots, celery and onions. Reduce the heat and slowly

cook the vegetables for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and allow it to become fragrant (about 1 minute), then stir in the kale, cover tightly, and steam until the kale wilts to about half its volume. Add the tomatoes, dried thyme and the vegetable broth. Bring to a boil then add the zucchini. Cover, reduce to a simmer and cook for 45 minutes. Add the beans and simmer for another 15 minutes to let the flavors develop. If needed, add water to allow soup to reach the desired consistency. At the end of the cooking time, taste and season with salt and pepper. Linda Wyner, a local attorney and foodie, owns Pans on Fire, a gourmet cookware store and cooking school in Pleasanton. Direct your suggestions or questions to lwyner@pansonfire.com

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

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GARDEN GIRL Our Clayton Valley landscapes have their share of hillsides. Steep hills, slopes, gradual hills, you name it. These pieces of property have been challenging to plant for many. It is hard to find the types of plants that deal with hillside’s extreme conditions. When looking at a potential hillside to develop, consider the layers of the area. In flat situations the desired look is a layer from small sized plants, to medium and eventually large. With hillsides think differently and install the plantings from small to large and medium towards the top. Large sized plants on hillsides should be those that are multi-trunk shaped. Great multi-trunk large sized plants for hillsides would be the Smoke Bush, Crape Mrytle, Viburnum and Arbutus. All of these thrive in our hot sun; they are all clay tolerant and waterwise. The Smoke Bush has desirable red foliage and great fall color. This multi-trunk tree will reach eight-feet tall and wide. Crape Myrtles are available in many colors and mature sizes. Their trunks become smooth with age and are stunning to look at. Viburnum is a family of spring blooming deciduous trees. The Rosea has a round, ball shaped flower that resembles a hydrangea. The fall color of this Viburnum is a reddish-orange. Arbutus is an evergreen multi-trunk tree for a hill-

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side that can reach 15-18-feet tall and wide. This selection has dark green leaves and a fabulous peeling cinnamon colored bark. Planting on a hillside reveals the Arbutus best attribute, its legs. There are many medium growing shrubs that thrive on Clayton Valley hillsides. This list is long. Some of the fastest growing favorites belong to the Lavantera family. This group of semi-evergreens blooms with hibiscus-shaped flowers of deep pinks, light pinks and purples. Several members of the Barberry family are also desirable hillside installations. The Rosy Glow and Crimson Pygmy are among the most popular. Dwarf Little John Bottle Brush is always a great consideration. The flowers are very hummingbird friendly. Little Ollie Dwarf Fruitless Olive shrubs are great hillside additions. The evergreen gray foliage provides contrast. Dr. Hurd Manzanita is another sturdy evergreen medium. Plant

the medium growers closer to the fence lines. As the taller, multi-trunk selections mature, they will expose the medium growers above them. Lower growing shrubs for hillside applications are the evergreen Myoporium, Grevillea Low Form, Correa, Ceanothus Yankee Point, Lantana and Manzanita Emerald Carpet. All of these choices are evergreen and their varied blooming seasons makes them great companions. Plant groups of three or five of the same, then introduce a different low grower. Mass is important on a hillside. Grevillea Low Form is in bloom January through March so it would be a nice companion planted with a mass of summer and fall blooming purple

Lantana. Amending the soil where you are planting is very important. Add soil conditioner at the time of installation and then annually to keep the ground accepting of water. Top-dress hillsides with a nice layer of shredded cedar bark. This will help keep your plants moist in the summer, warm in the winter and keep some of the weeds down. Applying shredded bark is almost an annual event. It may be a drag, but it is part of having a nice hillside.

For the Books, from page 16

becoming better readers. Every person belonging to a book club should have a copy of this book, and don’t be surprised if you turn back to at least some of “Good Prose” before you’re halfway through the next book you read.

rehearsed. It has a franchised feel, like the chain restaurant that tells its patrons ‘you’re family.’” This quote is less curmudgeonly than it is cautionary of the overuse of whatever happens to be the trendy “voice” of the time. Although the book is authored by both men, there are excerpts that are strictly each

writer’s own and identified by his initials. Their relationship, as told in Chapter 8, is written with warmth and honesty. From the “Introduction” to the “Notes on Usage,” no part of “Good Prose” is unimportant. I’m sure any number of future writers will benefit from “Good Prose,” but I’ll bet an even larger number of people will benefit by

Nicole is the Garden Girl at R&M Pool, Patio, Gifts and Garden. Contact her with questions or comments at gardengirl@claytonpioneer.com

Sunny Solomon is a freelance writer and head of the Clayton Book Club. Visit her website at bookinwithsunny.com for her latest recommendations or just to ‘talk books.’

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