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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Letters to the Editor CC Times miscast information in Jan. 2 editorial On Jan. 2, 2013, the Contra Costa Times ran an editorial, “It’s time for serious discussion about the compensation of local elected officials,” (Jan. 2, 2013) in which there were serious factual misstatements and omissions about the health insurance benefits I receive as a result of my 16 years on the board of Mt. Diablo Hospital District before the merger with John Muir Medical. The Times editorial painted all elected officials receiving health care benefits after their service ended with a very broad brush, using loaded terms such as “putrid ethical conflict.” I cannot speak for all who were painted with this brush, but I can clear up the mis-characterization of the facts in my case. The Times editorial stated that when the hospital district was dissolved, an estimate of the future value of my health insurance was $556,000; partially correct, but grossly incomplete. In lieu of this $556,000 future value, the district offered us a lump sum payment of $150,000. Since, as a member of the Concord City Council, I was eligible for the city’s much cheaper health plan, we did not need the cash buyout from the district. So, that $150,000 was given to the American Cancer Society in the form of an irrevocable delayed annuity
with all profits going directly to assist cancer patients. Maria, a cancer survivor herself, and I have never received a penny of this money. The Contra Costa Times knew this and failed to report it in their editorial—a serious omission. Ron Leone Concord City Councilman
RESPITE SAYS THANKS I want to sincerely thank you for the beautiful article about The Respite Inn (Clayton Pioneer, Dec. 20, 2013). John Jackson truly is a gifted writer. We’ve had many articles written over the years in various newspapers. This article is by far the best and so right on. John captured the true spirit and essence of The Respite Inn. From the bottom of our hearts, Thank you for all you do Maureen Wright Executive Director, The Respite Inn
Thank you to Claycord.com The photo of Concord Mayor Tim Grayson and Vicemayor Ron Leone that appeared on page 9 of the Dec. 20 issue of the Clayton Pioneer was taken by David Gomez for Claycord.com and reprinted with permission. We inadvertently ran the photo without photo credit and apologize.
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Concord seeks input on housing The City of Concord Planning Division is asking Concord residents to participate in an online survey to gather input about the current and future state of housing within the city. The survey data will be used to update the city’s Housing Element, part of the city’s General Plan. The city is interested to learn
through the survey what residents see as the Concord’s most significant housing issues, how residents would address statemandated requirements to plan for increased housing units, and what could be done to improve the city’s housing inventory. The 20-question survey is available online at www.surveymonkey.com/s/housing112013,
from the home page of the city’s website at www.cityofconcord.org, and in paper format at the Permit Center, 1950 Parkside Dr. The deadline for completing the survey is Monday, Feb. 10. Local governments are required to prepare and adopt a Housing Element as part of their General Plan. The Hous-
ing Element must include existing and projected housing needs, and the resources and constraints to address those needs. For more information, contact Senior Planner Joan Ryan at 925671-3370 or joan.ryan@cityofconcord.org.
Concord seeks members for two commissions The Concord City Council is looking for residents to serve on the Appeals Board and the Commission on Aging. Deadline for applications is Friday, Feb.14. The Appeals Board is comprised of up to five members, but needs to fill only one slot. An additional member may be appointed to serve as an alter-
nate. Board members must be qualified by experience and training to consider matters pertaining to building construction. The board hears appeals of decisions made by the City Building Official. Meetings are scheduled on an as-needed basis. The Commission on Aging is comprised of up to 11 mem-
bers. This recruitment is for up to five members. Commission members act as a resource to identify, improve, and develop services and opportunities for senior citizens in Concord. At least 51percent of members are required to be over the age of 60 years. Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month at 1:30 p.m. at the Con-
cord Senior Center, 2727 Parkside Circle. Applications may be obtained at the City Management offices, 1950 Parkside Drive, or requested by calling 925-671-3495. Application forms are also available at the City’s website at www.cityofconcord.org.
For 100-year-old Wilbur Daly, life is still sweet married Feb. 10, 1935. Six years later Daly was called to active duty and was sent to be part of service company headquartered in Gilroy, CA, shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Myrtle followed her husband to Gilroy taking their two sons and daughter along. With the National Guard Daly traveled to various different states and countries before landing in Okinawa. It was here in Okinawa where Daly was stationed until the war ended. But even though WWII was over Daly was still on active duty and was sent to Korea before heading back to the states.
ASHLEY RICCI Special to the Pioneer
At the ripe age of 100, Wilbur Daly has lived an interesting and well-traveled life. Born on June 9, 1913 in Detroit, Daly has lived through some of America’s greatest milestones, as well as served his country, joining the National Guard in 1933. But his greatest milestone is his 78-year marriage to Myrtle Daly. When asked what his happiest memory was, Wilbur replied “Right over there, that gal I married.” He and Myrtle met while Daly was working at a Ford Motor Company in Michigan and were
WILBUR DALY
COMING HOME In 1945 Daly finally returned
home to stay with Myrtle and their four children in Michigan. Over the next 10 years the Dalys had two more children, both girls. The past 78 years have seen Daly and Myrtle traveling across the United States and parts of Europe, even passing through the Panama Canal. It wasn’t until three years ago that they came to live with their daughter, Pamela J. Daly, here in Clayton. For the Dalys it is a peaceful life with Wilbur’s favorite activity, walking around the park five times every day except Sunday. Though his greatest accomplishment in life so far, “I’m alive and I got married and all of my children are alive,” says Wilbur.
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Basically, a drought is determined by the amount of water available, she says, and good planning and conservation methods, as well as increased supplies from Delta waters, have kept the water supplies in a fairly good position to serve customers. “But we rely on the Sierra snowpack, so all that can change if we continue to see dry weather patterns.” She says that the water district has an internal team of experts working on a scenario if that happens, and will have a plan in place if rationing happens later this summer, she said. It’s not clear how much rain, or more importantly, how much Sierra snowfall, is needed to avoid water rationing. “Weather is an art, not a science,” she says. DRY PERIOD OR CLIMATE CHANGE? Whitlatch agrees that the unpredictable nature of weather makes it nearly impossible to
foresee what is beyond the horizon, despite the advanced meteorological technologies available today. “Currently, California is sitting below a stubborn high-pressure ridge that isn’t letting go,” he says. “It’s bumping all the wet weather systems north and east of us. That in part is what’s causing the severe weather in other parts of the country. That weather has to go somewhere.” Californians are used to that high pressure ridge, as it has been a frequent companion for the past three years. Using the data he’s compiled, Whitlatch says that we are in a three-to-four year dry weather pattern. Based on “water year” data, the last two years have been pretty dry, with 2012-13 ranking 42nd of 165 years, in the 25th percentile of rainfall, and 201112 ranking 35th, in the 21st percentile. “If we hadn’t had such a wet December in 2012, the 2012-
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13 water year would have ranked much drier,” he says. Still, Whitlatch says that he sees the current pattern as just that, an event, and not a sign of climate change. However, he says that doesn’t mean that climate change does not exist. “It’s a good chance we are in climate change, and maybe 30 years from now we can look over the patterns, and really determine that yes, we are getting drier,” he says. “But it’s just too early determine that with the rainfall records we have now.” Still, in the second decade of the 21st Century, it’s hard to understand why we can’t have more of a positive impact on the weather via technology. “There is always cloud seeding,” Whitlatch says, referring to the process of adding moisture to existing rainmakers. “But you need clouds for that, and we just haven’t had much cloud cover at all. You can’t make water where there isn’t any.” He agrees with Allen that residents are more savvy now in dealing with water shortages than we were in the past. “Back in 1976-77, we didn’t have a clue how to handle a drought. Now, water companies, and water users, are more prepared.” WHAT’S AHEAD? How to be prepared for water shortages and rationing is on the minds of many people, according to Nicole Hackett, the Pioneer’s gardening expert. “I hear it all the time now: ‘What should I be doing if there is a drought?’ People are scared,” she says. Hackett’s column this issue (see page 16) details some ideas, but she is quick to point out that people need to examine their water usage, and make sure they are “water wise.” “Are you watering your lawn, or the sidewalk? What time of day do you water? There are very simple things homeowners and garden aficionados can do
to make sure they are getting the best bang for their water buck, so to speak.” She and Allen suggest contacting the CCWD to see about some of the free programs offered to customers that will help residents gauge their water usage. “There are tools available, such as programs to help replace landscapes so that they are more ‘water-wise,’” says Hackett. “I’ve seen some lovely dryscapes in the Clayton Valley area that have little or no grass. Not only does it save on water, but it is a lot easier to tend.” Still, looking ahead, Whitlatch says that by reviewing historical data, he suspects that the rest of the 2013-14 water year will be about 75 percent of average. He came to that conclusion after sorting through JuneDecember rainfall in San Francisco in the past 165 years, coming up with an average for 25 of those years. That average is 13.04 inches. While he did not study the jet stream charts for those 25 years, Whitlatch says that he did note that a persistent high pressure ridge over the West Coast, like the one we are currently experiencing, was mainly responsible for the abnormally dry fall and early winter seasons. So, during at least 20 of the 25 dry first sixmonth segments of the water year, those with at least 75 percent of normal January to June rainfall had some breakdown of the ridge during the second sixmonth portion of the water year. In other words, statistically speaking, we’re likely to see some breakdown of that stubborn ridge. And looking ahead at one weather model, Whitlatch says there is a chance of “some decent rain” beginning after Jan. 20. “Weather” or not that happens, he, like all residents, is hoping for the best, and preparing for a drought.