DIABLO GAZETTE - NOVEMBER 2015 ISSUE

Diablo Gazette • NOVEMBER 2015 • Page 2 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette •(925)-298-9990

From the Publisher David King

The Grass is Always Browner on the Other Side While perusing the articles for this edition, a debate was spawned.

I summarized that the totality of the message from this edition is, “The grass is always browner…” My family says I am being negative. However, “the grass is greener only sounds positive by comparison, it is in fact a negative thought. It’s about coveting.

Besides, in California, I reasoned, brown grass is even more positive, because it means you are being responsible towards our drought problem. Therefore, “the grass is always browner on the other side” is a positive outlook. I’m not talking about

drought or fall. It’s about the season.

The Holiday season.

This is the time where we are reminded to give thanks, have gratitude. Recognize what you have, not what you don’t have. I am truly grateful for this area, our friends and neighbors, its beauty. I offer a special thanks to the people of our communities. Stay good, it gives us plenty to write about.

For day to day updates, like us on www.facebook.com/diablogazette.

Or visit our website at diablogazette. com. Send your stories, photos or advertising requests to diablogazette@gmail.com. Diablo Gazette wishes everyone have a happy Thanksgiving.

David King David King Publisher Diablo Gazette

Concord Says Good Bye to Bill Shinn Concord lost one of its finest last month when Bill Shinn passed away on October 16, at the age 74 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

He was a Mt. Diablo High School graduate and went to Diablo Valley College. He was a Navy veteran, and a graduate of FBI National Academy.

Shinn was a dedicated public servant. He worked in the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office and retired as commander. He held several positions for the city of Concord, including City Councilman from 20042012 and served as Mayor in 2008 for one term.

He worked with the Countywide Committee on Ending Homelessness, chaired the East Bay Regional Communications System, and served as chair of the Concord Human Relations Commission. He was a member of the Concord Planning Commission.

Upon retirement he was recognized for his service in the House of Representatives by Hon. George Miller. “Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. William Shinn as he retires after 45 years in public service to the people of Contra Costa County and the City of Concord. Bill Shinn has been known throughout the community as a man of integrity, and he has served with uncommon selflessness; we are all beneficiaries of his efforts.”

So much has been reported about Bill Shinn that we can’t add much more… except a few comments from the community itself as posted on Claycord. com. This community felt the loss of a great man, and gave Bill a sincere goodbye and a well-earned “Thank You.” Brujo: “Bill was a very good man and a good friend. He was a special person. I am going to miss him tremendously...”

Colleen Coll: “Former Mayor and Councilmember Bill Shinn had a true passion for Concord. He served the city and residents honorably and with integrity and compassion. He

will be missed.”

Officer Barbrady: “Good Councilman and good cop.”

Mamatosix: “A true Man’s Man. So much gratitude for all he did.”

Red Devil Fan: “He was always a class act and someone who worried about others more than any election…”

Spicoli: “He was a great public servant – Concord was lucky to have him.”

Babytruck: “What an awesome guy he was.

What a loss. ” A true gentleman: “Bill lived a good life, and he enriched the lives of those around him. I worked with him professionally, and he was one of the best. A truely good man. We will all miss you.”

Craig Cannon: “There are a few ‘good men’ left on planet earth, now one less. Mr. Shinn is everything I’d like to be. Everything I’d like my son to be.

Thank you sir for your devotion to the job and the dedication to your people.”

Jackie Shinn-Fratangelo: “Thank you to everyone for the kindest of words about my Father. I can vouch for his love of the City of Concord. And whether on the Sheriff’s Dept., City Councilman, and Family man in all hats his heart was always in the right place with genuine , honorable intention...

Jackie Shinn (youngest daughter)” Mf: “Wow. What an accomplished person. ” Larry Prosper: “He was a Mt. Diablo High “Sports Hall of Famer”. We will all miss him.”

Pete Loechner: “Past Commander of Lt. Jerry Novakovich, Post 1525. Bill was very supportive of Post 1525 activities. A good man, he will be missed but not forgotten. He is with GOD” Russ Sayin: “Great, great guy. Just a wonderful human being.”

Irma: “Such a great loss, Bill was a great person to work with.”

Well Folks: “Bill Shinn was always very nice and honest with people. He treated people with respect.

He was a great, one-of-a-kind person and will be missed by many” Always Right: “An old fashioned gentleman. He

never seemed to have an unkind word for anyone.

Heaven wins again.”

Cee Man: “Bill was a great neighbor who served the people of Concord with distinction. He will be greatly missed.”

Norm Nunes: “We attended the police academy together and served in the Sheriff’s Dept. for many years. Liked by everyone.”

David Zarri: “Very sorry to see Bill go. He was a good neighbor and friend, someone who really cared about people, kind and generous, and a good story teller! He was a true public servant. He also worked with NAMI Contra Costa to help police officers better understand mental illness…”

Andre Gensburger, Publisher of the Concordian: “He was a great guy and a good friend of the Concordian.” Andre shared these early photos of Bill with us.

Diablo Gazette • NOVEMBER 2015 • Page 3 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette • (925)-298-9990

What Really Matters

by Dan Ashley I just returned from two weeks in Africa—on safari in Tanzania.

It was an incredible trip that will stay with me for the rest of my life for a variety of reasons. For one, the breathtaking animals found in abundance in the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, and the Tarangire National Park—all of which we visited. In those protected areas, I saw elephants, zebras and hippos by the hundreds, lions, cheetahs hunting gazelle, giraffes, and so many more of the world’s most exotic creatures.

I also had the chance to meet and interact with a number of Tanzanians and to speak with them about Africa, America, our differences and what we have in common. They were delightful and interesting conversations and gave me the opportunity to make connections that I hope will be lasting-as we exchanged emails and phone numbers before I left.

Tanzania is a poor country and that is clearly evident as one travels around it. For a great many there, life is very hard and has changed very little in thousands of years. Children leave their homes at the crack of dawn to herd cows and goats to water, often not returning until dusk.

Women walk miles to fetch water, carrying it for miles on their heads to bring it back home where they will then toil the rest of the day cooking food and caring for their families.

The day we left Tanzania, it was election day and, across the country, people were hopeful for change after 54-years with the same man in power. Any change, will come slowly as there is enormous work to be done to create more opportunity and a better standard of living for its people.

It is impossible to be in a place like Tanzania and not be grateful for the lifestyle we enjoy in the United States and to appreciate what it means to be free to express yourself and to pursue your dreams and to reach your full potential. Tanzania is a beautiful place with wonderful people, but it cannot compare to what we have in America—all the fruit of the vision, sacrifice, and commitment of our founding fathers and the men and women who have worked to strengthen our democracy in two hundred and forty years since.

Something to be especially grateful for in this season of Thanksgiving.

Diablo Gazette • NOVEMBER 2015 • Page 4 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette •(925)-298-9990

From The Principal’s Desk

By Jeff Eben Clayton Valley Charter High School To be clear, it is possible for a student to receive a failing grade at Clayton Valley Charter High School. In fact, it happens more than we’d like. Truth be told, however, our team is committed to making failure as difficult as we can. We expect our students to graduate, but also recognize that the high school journey has some bumps along the way, and we are not going to be passive when students struggle.

Clayton Valley has adopted a Failure Free Zone that is taking an aggressive stance on student intervention and we are making every attempt to eliminate failure as an option for our students.

Failure Free has been around before and I have used a similar philosophy in other schools. One would think such a concept is an easy sell, but I have found that not to be true. Often, when talking about things like “failure free” I have had

to defend myself. My experience shows that teachers and others get concerned that students are being given grades they don’t earn or just allowed to pass for no reason. To me, it is the opposite of that low expectation approach. Failure Free not only makes Clayton Valley students accountable for work, it refuses to accept complacency or under performance.

At Clayton Valley, Failure Free has a name and it is called Saturday Bridge. This is a comprehensive tutorial program that allows struggling students to get weekend help from administrators, teachers and peer tutors. Students are assigned in October and stay until their grades improve. This year, 125 students have started the Saturday Bridge. This number will fluctuate throughout the year as students move in and out of the program. How many of those students maintain their path toward graduation remains to be seen. With a 96% graduation rate, the standard of completion is high, so I am hopeful for this year’s participants.

CVCHS to Host Holiday Faire Clayton Valley Charter High School Parent Faculty Club is hosting their 3rd Annual Holiday Faire on Sunday, December 7th from 11am to 4pm. There will be over 40 booths stationed among both gyms on campus and almost half of those will be student clubs.

The Holiday Faire provides a venue to assist in fundraising and support for all Clayton Valley Charter student groups who participate – be they clubs, academies, boosters, or any other CVCHS school-affiliated group.

Student-made and specialty items will be sold by student groups. Shop for CV ornaments and apparel, jewelry, blankets, hexbugs, decorative lighted wine bottles, henna tattoos, and pet treats for the holidays. Or, come by to enjoy hot chocolate and baked goods.

Community vendors will be selling

jewelry, scented wax & warmers, wind chimes, cookware, sheepskin products, photography, wreaths, skin care products, toys, tote & lunch bags, hand-made crafts and much more.

Chartwells will provide lunch in the Clayton Valley cafeteria for purchase in addition to some hot drinks.

Various Clayton Valley music groups will serenade you with holiday music to make your shopping experience festive and fun! Hand-crafted prizes from the assorted vendors will be awarded about every 15 minutes in an ongoing raffle.

The student groups work hard preparing for this event each year.

Mark your calendar, search for those unique gifts, and enjoy the afternoon while supporting the Clayton Valley student groups.

Clayton Valley Honors Five Students For National Recognition

CV Principal Jeff Eben presents national recognition awards to Lynette Cox, Melissa Cox, Emily Payne and Ronald Yonemura.

This month, officials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the names of approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the 61st annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

Clayton Valley Charter High School honored four students for earning the Commended Scholar Award: Lynette Cox, Melissa Cox, Emily Payne and Jonathan Wessel. In addition, Ronald Yonemura was awarded a Certificate of Excellence and Leadership for his performance at the Congress of Science and Technology Leaders Camp this summer in Boston.

“Our school community is very proud of these fine students and their achievement,” said Clayton Valley Principal Jeff Eben. “This recognition is certain to broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success.”

About 1.5 million juniors in more than 22,000 high schools entered the 2016 National Merit

Scholarship Program by taking the 2014 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest- scoring entrants in each state.

A semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

From the approximately 16,000 semifinalists, about 15,000 are expected to advance to the finalist level, and in February they will be notified of this designation. Every finalists will compete for one of the 2,500 National Merit Scholarships that will be awarded in Spring 2016. Each finalist award is a $2,500 scholarship.

Diablo Gazette • NOVEMBER 2015 • Page 5 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette • (925)-298-9990

New Homeowner’s Basic Maintenance Guide Jennifer Stojanovich Buying a home is an exciting experience.

You save up your downpayment, wade through thousands of listings, find and hire a buyer’s agent, search for the perfect home, make an offer, get accepted and take the plunge. Now, you’ve moved in, repainted walls, arranged furniture, hung window coverings and settled in for the fall season.

Except, you’ve never checked a furnace filter, dealt with a leaky faucet, cleaned gutters or mulched your trees. If you’ve never owned a home before, you may be unprepared for the realities of home ownership.

What to do?

Remember the four elements: Earth, Air, Fire, Water Earth: While the temperatures remain warm enough, take care of any landscaping issues you may have. Rake and properly dispose of leaves, remove dead branches, give your lawn a final mowing and prepare it for winter, mulch flowerbeds and trees, cover any exposed dirt to protect it from erosion and check rock walls for loose stones.

Inspect your foundation for cracks that may need professional repair.

While you’re at it, put away outdoor furniture, toys and tools so that they’re protected from harsh winter weather and ready for Spring.

Air: One of the most important elements in your home, air, can be a friend or an enemy. Seal windows and add weather-stripping to doors for leakage. Check the attic insulation for the appropriate depth for your region. Inspect your attic fans, gable vents and other air-flow methods for proper ventilation.

Winterize your AC. Remove or winterize your window air conditioners. Wash off the condenser housing of your central AC and remove any buildup of leaves, dust, insect nests, weeds or grass clippings. Have a professional check your central air-conditioning system for leaks.

Fire: Your HVAC system (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) keeps your home comfortable in all temperatures, so take care of it well. Make sure filters are clean and free of damage.

Have your furnace inspected by a certified HVAC technician. Check your ducts check for buildup and have the professionally cleaned if necessary.

Make sure the fireplace damper works correctly so that you can avoid losing warmth through the flue and check the chimney for debris from insects,

birds or prior use.

Check smoke and gas detectors to make certain the batteries are new and the alarms work.

Water: This element causes hidden damage in homes and requires vigilance to keep from having massive problems and expensive repairs due to mildew, mold, rot and other water damages.

Outdoors, inspect your gutters and downspouts for leaves and debris. Make sure the downspouts are directed away from your foundation. Have your roof inspected to make certain you don’t have potential leaks. This is particularly true after a major weather event such has hail or heavy wind.

A professional roof inspector can also advise you on weather your home might be subject to ice damage from dams and buildup.

Check your faucets for drips and your drains for leaks. Make sure pipes hidden in cupboards do not leak or create condensation. If you have condensation inside cabinets from water pipes you may need to install ventilation into the cabinets.

Check toilets for leaking, running or flow problems and have them fixed immediately.

Contact your real estate professional for information on home inspections before you buy so that you’re prepared for the upkeep to your new investment.

Compliments of www.Virtual Results.net.

Jennifer is a Clayton-based realtor.

See her ad on page 6.

Home Sweet Home Handbook Guides Today’s Home Buyers and Sellers Home Sweet Home Handbook Buyers, and they, along with first is the complete guide to buying time homebuyers, are poised to make and selling a home. It was written a huge comeback in the world of

by Walnut Creek resident Ron home ownership. But what’s going Kaminski, MBA, JD and legal real to keep them from repeating the estate appraiser specialist. It would mistakes of a decade ago? It helps have been a handy tool to have back that mortgages are harder to get when everyone was signing their lives again, with down payments of 30% or away. more the new normal. Hopefully we Remember the good ol’ days when all learned a valuable lesson: buying a the American Dream could become a home is not for the uninformed. reality by simply coming up with 20% As Kaminski says buying and down? Oh sure, 20% down wasn’t selling a home is kind of like easy, but with a few years of diligent arranging a funeral; too often, savings, some help decisions are based on from Aunt Betty, emotion with a rush and accepting to get things done. the fact that your Unfortunately, the starter home real estate industry, wasn’t going to be like other occupations, your dream home, has its fair share of people did it. lazy, careless, and And then unscrupulous people. something changed.

Everybody, the buyer, Suddenly everybody the seller, the parents could become with the helpful a homeowner. portion of down People who had no payment, has to know business becoming what they’re doing homeowners were and most importantly, quickly signing on must be willing to the dotted line, and walk away. the dream became “Buying a home Ron Kaminski a nightmare. Lives is an emotional were destroyed, purchase,” says banks failed, and the Great Recession Kaminski, “and not being realistic of 2008 was born. is how people get into trouble. We That was seven years ago, about tend to remember the mistakes of our the time it takes for foreclosures parents, yet forget about the mistakes and bankruptcies to cycle off a of our grandparents - and so the cycle credit report, so guess who’s back? continues.”

They’re known as Boomerang The Home Sweet Home Handbook

breaks down the complex issues of home buying and selling and gives the average buyer or seller, as much, if not more information than the so-called professionals in whom they are putting their trust. It will tell you of your rights, your responsibilities, what key questions to ask your real estate professional or lender, and how to avoid fateful consequences before embarking on this expensive proposition. Knowledge is Power.

With over 25 years’ experience in all aspects of buying, selling and appraising real estate, Kaminski saves his readers money, time and energy as well as post-sale remorse.

The Home Sweet Home Handbook helps buyers and sellers select the 20% of all real estate professionals who do 80% of the business due to their training, initiative and personal integrity – the ones who are still in business well after the crash.

Additionally, the Home Sweet Home Handbook contains a Glossary that is more comprehensive than most real estate books, and an all-inclusive index. It’s all there, easy to read, easy to understand.

If you’re in the market to buy or sell property, shopping for a loan, lending money to your kids, thinking of refinancing or anything else having to do with real estate, the Home Sweet Home Handbook is for you.

Kaminski has served almost 1500 attorneys and judges and over 200 financial sources since 1987.

He has been a California certified appraiser since 1992 and is a court and alternative resolution forum

approved expert witness. His five+ billion dollars of appraisal valuations cover a variety of topics, and his work with over 1400 attorneys has given him special insight into good and bad real estate practices. Kaminski worked as a Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC) appraiser in preforeclosure work, and he reviewed previous appraisals that had led to the collapse of the savings and loan industry in the early 1990’s. Kaminski has worked with US Customs, the IRS and as host of his own radio show. You can order his book online at www.homesweethomehandbook. com.

Diablo Gazette • NOVEMBER 2015 • Page 6 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette •(925)-298-9990

Super Easy ‘Give Thanks’ Home Decor Projects

FrugElegance Carol and Randi, the Frugirls

Do you think you are not crafty or think it’s too difficult? We put together a few super quick and easy DIY (do it yourself) ideas that are perfect for your Fall and Thanksgiving home décor. We mostly use items that we have around the house. These are ordinary items we find ourselves reusing season after season, but apply a little creative repurposing each year. We hope you can use these ideas in your home, and inspire you to create some special decor for your home.

• We have these large frames, shown here on the mantle. They have been used many times for parties and room decor. By using clips, we attached faux leaves and we simply wrote a letter on each leaf with a sharpie marker. We spelled out “Be Thankful”. The other frame holds a wreath that is tied on with a fall ribbon. The small white frame holds a free printable that we found online that we printed on our home computer. Then we just taped it to the back of that frame. Easy and done.

• Using the sharpie marker, we wrote letters t-h-a-n-k-s across small

white pumpkins and placed on the mantle.

• For another idea, "Give Thanx" was written in chalk and framed, perched on a tray full of candles and pumpkins that project the warm rich color of fall. The frame has been used for the past three seasons and the only difference is the chalk written message and the decorative Fall twigs and berries that we attached to the frame.

• We have a tradition of sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner, saying grace, and then each person saying what they are thankful for.

This year, as our family and friends are having appetizers, we will have a jar of thanks. Each person will write something they are thankful for and put it in the jar. When we sit at the table for dinner, we can pass around the jar and we each read one out loud. The jar has a chalkboard sticker. We just hand wrote the words using a chalk marker.

It’s time for some new traditions mixed with the old. From our homes to yours, we wish you a very happy, healthy & wonderful Thanksgiving!

Come see us at www.frugelegance. com for many more DIY Home Decor, Recipes & Frug-Elegant living ideas.

Diablo Gazette • NOVEMBER 2015 • Page 7 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette • (925)-298-9990

Computer Corner

By William Claney, Computers USA

Whoops, Did It Again Did you hear the one about, “Hi we’re calling from Microsoft because we noticed your computer is infected with a virus and you could lose all your data, and we were concerned.”

One hears about computer telephone scams associated with computer viruses far too often. It’s not random or a seldom occurrence, nor is it a just idle talk around the water cooler. It is, in fact, an intentional organized crime scam.

The victims are told they have a virus and should take action now to avoid further damage to data files. Phooey.

These phone scam artists make it sound so true, and you’re off balance because they seem to know more about it than you. Baloney. Of course you want to do the right thing, and you want to protect all your data files. Why do people continue to fall for this? I really think it has a lot to do with human nature. We are by disposition too trusting and receptive to higher authority suggestions and fearful of the unknown. Constantly we accept the words of a pseudo expert far too easily. If they call you, just hang up; you really can’t hurt the feelings of a criminal, nor can you be too rude. HANG UP! Just recently, a user received a message over the Internet that a “scan” had revealed a virus on their computer and they should call an 800 phone number and speak to a representative to correct the issue.

Woops, they did it. They let this scammer into their computer to fix an issue. Well that cost a trip to the bank to stop payment and a trip to their local professional to get rid of the “software” installed by the scammer.

If you don’t have antivirus (AV) and anti-malware (AM) protection it’s likely a little panic ripples down your spine at the thought you might lose everything. If you do have a good AV and AM, learn to trust them. Trust comes with use and by tinkering with them, running them even though they may run automatically. Get to know and trust your AV and AM protection. Know the way they scan, the way they report, the messages it gives and if a message pops out of nowhere that is unfamiliar it’s most likely bogus. So don’t fall for it.

Well, here are some facts brought to you by a real expert and professional in the business. First and foremost, don’t panic. Turn your computer off and call your tech. Second, don’t rush. If your computer is off, nothing further will harm you. Third, keep your wits and know this, Microsoft won’t call you. Heck, we work with them every day, and they won’t call us. So, why on God’s green earth, would they call you? I don’t mean to say you’re not a VIP with Microsoft, but they don’t operate that way. If you have a software issue you need to call an authorized rep. Call Microsoft if you want, just don’t expect them to call you back. That’s my job and the job of every certified Microsoft Partner, so talk to your local expert. That’s why they are there.

By the way, for 20 bucks keep backups of your data, letters, photos, tunes, videos and the lot on a USB flash drive and you’ll never be a victim.

See his ad below.

Diablo Gazette • NOVEMBER 2015 • Page 8 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette •(925)-298-9990

Reviews

Report,” “The Nightly Show.”

In a new forward, Wilmore explains how his Senior Black Correspondent was a fictional persona and that his book was an equally fictional “look back” at the odd history and odder political activism of this persona.

As with any humor book, mileage will vary greatly from piece to piece and reader to reader.

I found Talk-Back Trauma, wherein fictional screen characters discuss how horrible it is to be constantly yelled at by black audiences, and In Search of Black Jesus to be the funniest of the lot. How Come Brothas Don’t See UFOs? Part II placed a very respectable third.

Fans of “The Nightly Show” should “Keep it 100” and check it out.

Book Ends

by Chadwick H Saxelid

‘Reach’ and ‘I’d Rather We Got Casinos and Other Black Thoughts’ Edited by Ben Jealous and Trabian Shorters, “Reach: 40 Black Men Speak on Living, Leading, and Succeeding” is a collection of autobiographical essays revealing the myth of the disengaged and absentee black man to be the complete and utter lie it is.

No matter who the contributor may be community organizer, businessman, religious leader, philanthropist, educator, or entertainer each and every one serves as a sterling example of working hard to overcome adversities of all kinds and succeeding in their field of endeavor, chosen or discovered.

Not satisfied with success, these forty men also work hard to give back to their communities; so future generations will not face the same racial and economic adversities they fought to overcome.

Although the contributors vary greatly in age and profession, there is a disconcerting sameness to many of their narratives: broken homes, drug addiction and/or alcoholism, drug dealing, the inevitable incarceration that

follows, and/or the power of being a member of a religious community or a church.

Although the short essays in “Reach” are not “heavy” reading; the longest is, perhaps, five pages. I do recommend reading only a sampling each night, or every other day, instead of gulping it all down. Readers should give these men’s powerful stories a chance to sink in.

While the above stories are sinking in, one might want to lighten the mood. I suggest you give Larry Wilmore’s “I’d Rather We Got Casinos and Other Black Thoughts” a try.

This amusing humor book, first published in 2009, to tie-in with Wilmore’s then semi-regular gig as the Senior Black Correspondent on “The Daily Show,” was reissued by Hachette this October; to tie in with Wilmore’s success hosting Comedy Central’s replacement for “The Colbert

‘The Martian’

New Outdoor Holiday Ice Skating Rink Coming to Downtown Martinez First outdoor ice-skating rink will be located in the heart of Downtown Martinez

“The Martian” continues the recent trend of giving audiences intelligent, supposedly scientifically accurate, space melodramas. While it doesn’t scale the emotional heights and technical wizardry of “Gravity,” it trumps the confused storytelling in the overly ambitious Interstellar.

This is perhaps Matt Damon’s most appealing performance and Ridley Scott hasn’t displayed this sort of nimbleness behind the camera in some time.

The ground crew of the Ares III are surveying Mars’ surface when a vicious sandstorm forces them to make an emergency departure.

Complications from the storm knock the crew out of contact with Mark Watney (Matt Damon), presumed dead the surviving members blast off from the red planet. Unbeknownst to NASA or the crew of Ares III, Watney is alive.

Left with a limited amount of supplies and no real safe harbor from the harsh environment, the stranded astronaut must use his botany skills and scientific knowledge to grow crops, produce water, and make

Martinez, CA — Main Street Martinez secures its first outdoor holiday ice rink in downtown Martinez. The DC Solar Downtown Holiday Ice rink will be located in the municipal parking lot at the corner of Ferry St. and Marina Vista Ave and will open from Nov. 21, 2015 through Jan. 3, 2016. Hours will vary with extended hours on school holidays.

Prices will range from $9 to $14 including skate rental with discounts available for seasonal passes, family skate night and a Friday Fun Night for teens. There will also be a skating academy featuring group lessons and private lessons will also be available.

“In previous years, downtown Martinez has had a synthetic ice rink during the holiday events – this rink is ice, not plastic as in the past and will be open about six weeks rather than just a few days” said Leanne Peterson, Executive Director for Main Street Martinez, “the DC Solar Downtown Holiday Ice rink will be a unique holiday experience and bring many people to enjoy skating under the stars and discover the downtown Martinez shops and restaurants.”

You won’t find food at the ice rink but there are many restaurants within a short walking distance

Movie Maverick

by Jason Rugaard

it 400 days until a rescue mission can make it to him. Armed with sarcasm, wit, and bad disco music, Watney goes about colonizing Mars.

Meanwhile, back home, NASA’s top minds are devising a plan to retrieve their forgotten man.

Great supporting work from Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels, Sean Bean, Chiwetel Ejiofor and the scene stealing Michael Pena, amongst others, rounds out the cast and proves a lived-in feeling to the picture. However, throughout the fleet 142 minute running time, my mind drifted back to Tom Hanks and his predicament on a desert island in “Cast Away.” That movie made it’s lonely character’s misadventures heartbreaking and shocking. As “The Martian” played out, Damon’s lost astronaut solved every problem a little too neatly. It felt like Hanks had a tougher time getting off the island than Damon did getting home from Mars.

Director: Ridley Scott Stars: Matt Damon, Jeff Daniels, Jessica Chastain

from the rink with a variety of food to suit every taste and budget.

Parking around the rink is FREE after 6pm and on weekends. The city of Martinez offers free parking throughout the downtown during the two weeks around Christmas and New Years Eve. The ice rink would not have been possible without the generous support of several businesses. DC Solar Company, Shell Oil, and a private donation provided the initial start up support for the ice rink.

PG&E has donated and is installing a permanent transformer to provide the electricity for the rink each year along with the assistance of Contra Costa Electric and IBEW, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Diablo Gazette and Claycord.com are two of several media sponsors from around the county, as is the City of Martinez. “If you are interested in supporting the new Downtown Holiday Ice Rink and promoting your business, give us a call, “says Peterson. That number is (925) 228-3577.

Diablo Gazette • NOVEMBER 2015 • Page 9 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette • (925)-298-9990

The Diablo Gazette’s

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Outdoors

MARTINEZ: Friday’s on the Main & Market featuring a Farmers Market 4p.mp 8 p.m. and Cool Cars & Music 6 p.m.

- 8 p.m. on the 600 & 700 blocks of Main. Free New Outdoor Holiday Ice Skating Rink Coming to Downtown Martinez; Nov. 21, 2015 through Jan. 3, 2016 Municipal Parking Lot at the corner of Ferry St. and Marina Vista Ave. TICKETS: Prices range from $9 to $14. Group rates, family night, season passes, skating academy, private party rates, birthday party packages also available. Call (925) 228-3577 or email director@ mainstreetmartinez.org Or visit www.

DowntownHolidayIce.com.

DANVILLE: Cars ‘n Coffee, On the First Sunday of every month, automotive enthusiasts gather in the parking lots of the Blackhawk Automotive Museum to share their vehicles and admire the other fabulous classics, exotics, rods and anything else with wheels and a motor. There is no fee for Cars & Coffee. Also, the Museum opens at 9am on Cars & Coffee Sundays. 8am-10am , Blackhawk Mu-seum • 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle • Danville p:925.736.2280 • museum@blackhawkmuseum.org, http://www.blackhawkmuseum.org/ carsncoffee.html CONCORD: Todos Santos Park OFF the Grid Mondays Contra Costa Blue Star Moms 2nd annual Veteran’s Day 5K/10K Run & Walk: Saturday, November 7th, 2015 at Hillcrest Park in Concord. All proceeds from this event go to the veterans. Blue Star Moms provide care packages when they check into the VA Rehab facility and provide them with shopping vouchers for needed items while they are in the rehab facility. A parent or guardian must be present with children (under 18) to register & sign re-lease form. OnLine, Mail in, or register in person at Roadrunner Sports in Concord or Sports Basement in Con-cord.

Entry Fees for 5K & 10K $35. Last minute registration is available at Early Packet Pick-up at RoadRunner Sports in Concord on Friday, November 6th from 4pm-7pm and on Race Day starting at 7am. $40.00 .

Prize awards to top 3 Male & Female Finishers in both races & for top Male & Female Veterans in both races!

Clayton Valley Woman’s Club Donates to the Care Packages for our Troops Clayton Valley Woman’s Club “adopted” Contra Costa Blue Star Moms as a service project several years ago and donates to the Care Packages that CCBSM sends to our overseas troops for the 4th of July and the Holiday Season. This year, CVWV members donated approximately $1,800 towards postage and supplies, prepared nearly 800 creamer/sugar/stir stick packets, folded and stacked over 1200 Sunday Comics and sewed more than 250 patriotic pillow cases for the Care Packages. If you’d like to help or join CVWC you can find their contact and meeting dates in their listing in the Club section of the Calendar of Events on page 11.

L to R: CVWC President Connie Weimar and CVWC Blue Star Moms Service Project Chairman Kathleen Horvath

CHRISTMAS IN SAN FRANCISCO CRYSTAL FAIR Coming to Golden Gate Park Crystal Fair has a new show and venue, called CHRISTMAS IN SAN FRANCISCO CRYSTAL FAIR. Taking place at the San Francisco County Fair Building (formerly Hall of Flowers) in Golden Gate Park, November 28-29, the show will feature the largest collection of crystals, beads, jewelry and metaphysical healing tools.

“Thousands of items, unique finds, gifts and jewels will be available just in time for the holidays promised at excellent prices,” according to show producer Jerry Tomlinson. “Over 50 exhibitors from around the country

and exotic places like Bali, Nepal, Afghanistan and China will dazzle you with their vast storehouse of brilliant gemstones and shamanic wisdom.”

Show hours are Saturday, November 28, 10am to 6pm: Sunday, November 29, 10am to 4pm. $8 tickets are good for both days. Children 12 and under free with adult. San Francisco County Fair Building, 9th Avenue at Lincoln Way, just inside Golden Gate Park. Contact: Jerry Tomlinson (415) 383-7837 Email: Jerry@crystalfair. com

What’s

UP?Martinez

in downtown

Oct. 31 .........Dia de los Muertos Nov 20-Jan 3 Holiday Ice Rink - NEW! Nov. 28 .........Small Business Saturday Dec 4 ............Holiday Frolic & Snow Play Dec. 12 .........Santa Beer Crawl Feb. 6, 2016 ......Wine & Chocolate Stroll April 16, 2016 ...Bay Area Craft Beer Festival Main Street Martinez PO Box 776 Martinez, CA 94553 www.MainStreetMartinez.org (925) 228-3577 facebook.com/downtownmartinez

Day of Race Registration: 7am-8am.

Race Day: Veteran’s Day Ceremony 8:15am-8:30am. Races Start: 8:30am . http://www.active.com/concord-ca/ running/distance-running-races/ veterans-5k-10k-run-and-walk-2015.

Light up the Night in Downtown Pleasant Hill Wednesday, December 2, 5:00p.m. - 8:00 p.m, Crescent Drive Pleasant Hill, Join Santa and others in lighting up Downtown Pleasant Hill for the holiday season.

Holiday Crafts Fair, Carriage Rides, Caroling & Studio A Dancers on the Plaza Stage, free hot chocolate & cookies, merchant giveaways and lots more fun for all the family.

WALNUT CREEK: Off the Grid Every Tuesday; 1380 N. California Blvd. from 5-9pm; Live music from 6-8 pm featuring, Quinn Deveuax , Food truck lovers rejoice! The community of Walnut Creek can come together to enjoy a variety of Off the Grid food trucks, live entertainment, wine and beer garden, and lots of tasty reasons to come back every Tuesday with family and friends for this ongoing weekly event. The rotating lineup of nine food trucks in Walnut Creek will include: Drewski’s Hot Rod Kitchen, Gyro Stop Kebab G, ADOruBOwl, and IzzyA’s Frozen Custard Find the full lineup available at http:// offthegridsf.com.

Home & Garden/ Farmers’ Markets Concord Tuesdays, 10am to 2pm, year-round, rain or shine, Todos Santos Plaza.

Concord Thursdays, 4pm to 8pm, odos Santos Plaza. Clayton, Saturdays 10am - 2pm Martinez, Farmers Market, Sundays, 10am to 2pm, year-round, Main St. and Estudillo.

Pleasant Hill Saturdays, through November 15th, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Downtown Plaza (in front of Jack’s Restaurant) http://www.pcfma. com http://www.pcfma.org Walnut Creek Diablo Valley Farmers Market Saturday 9a.m. - 1 p.m. Shadelands Business Park, N. Wigett Lane and Mitchell Dr. Contra Costa Certified Farmers Market Sundays 9 am - 1 pm, Year Round, North Locust St between Giamona and Lacassie St. (925) 431-8361 http:// www.cccfm.org

Diablo Gazette • NOVEMBER 2015 • Page 10 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette •(925)-298-9990

Support Groups Al-Anon Family Group 7:30 p.m. Mondays, St. Martins of Tours Anglican Church & Preschool, Concord. 932-6770 or www.ncwsa. org.

Alcoholics Anonymous - 9394155 or www.aa.org.

Bereavement Support Group:1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month, 4:30 6:00 pm. pre-registration. Call (925) 887-5681 The Bridge A bi-weekly program that provides support in a safe place where grieving children, teens, adults share their experiences using art, play, journaling, music and conversation. The Bridge program starts and ends with each school year, approximately 9 months. Preregistration (925) 887-5681.

Cardiac Care Support Group - 7 p.m. second Thursdays, John Muir Walnut Creek or Concord. 947-5206.

Hearing Loss and Cochlear Implant Wearers Support Group - 7 p.m. 1st Wednesdays, Walnut Creek United Methodist Church. HLAADV@hearinglossdv. org or 264-1199.

Flag Ceremony and All-You-CanEat Chili Dinner to Honor local Veterans Proceeds Benefit VFW Diamond Terrace Retirement Community is hosting their 3rd Annual Veterans’ Dinner. This is a wonderful opportunity to bridge the generational gap of resident veterans, VFW members, with members of the community. Boy Scouts from Troops 262 and 484 will be performing the Flag Ceremony and Bugle Call with VFW members, resident veterans and their family members, in attendance.

The public is invited to this touching tribute. The dinner will be TexasStyle Chili, as much as you can eat, for a $5 donation, with musical entertainment throughout dinner by renowned guitarist and country music singer Denny Colleret. All proceeds will go to the local VFW chapter. The Flag Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, November 11th at 6PM, with dinner to follow.

Please RSVP with Elizabeth Sanches,

Denny Colleret Activity Director, at (925) 524-5100

by Wednesday, November 5th. Don’t miss this special opportunity to have say Thank You and honor veterans in our community.

Leukemia Society Family Support Group - 7 p.m. first Thursdays. 947-4466, ext. 32797.

Living with a Mental Illness?

Join NAMI Connection Peer-led support group. Saturdays 1:00 2:30 pm at John Muir Behavioral Health Center 2740 Grant Street Concord. Call 925-942-0767 or www. namicontracosta.org Nar-Anon - 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, John Muir Concord. http:// naranoncalifornia.org.

Pet Loss Support Group, Second Tuesday of the month, 5:30-7PM. (925) 887-5681. Pre-registration required.

Retired & Senior Volunteer Program - 472-5777.

The Stroke Support Group of Contra Costa County will meet in the Concord I Room at John Muir Medical Center - Concord Campus, 2540 East Street, Concord Monday, Oct 12, from 7-9 p.m. Contact Ann Dzuna at 925-376-6218. Meetings are free and open to the public.

Have an event coming up?

Email your event info to: diablogazette@gmail.com

FALL in Love with fashions by Francesca’s Tickets on Sale Now!

($20.00 Earlier Registration / $25.00 At the Door)

DATE: TIME:

Concord Ducati Bike Night, 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on the fourth Friday of each month at Lazy Dog Café, 1961 Diamond Blvd, Concord. 925/8491221 http://norcaldoc.com CLAYTON VALLEY WOMAN’S CLUB is holding its November 10, 2015, meeting and Cooking Class at Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Drive in Clayton. Starts at 10:00 am followed by a cooking class at 11:15 am by Chef John Evans with recipes and meal after. The cost is $22.

Guests are welcome. Please contact Kathy Olson at 925-524-0641 for information.

Annual Benefit Fashion Show

HIV/AIDS Support Group - 7-9 p.m. 2nd & 4th Thursdays, John Muir Concord. 925- 674-2190.

Club/Support Group Events

November 21, 2015 2:00 PM

LOCATION: Oak Park Christian Center 2073 Oak Park Blvd.

Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 Fun / Appetizers / Beverages / Desserts / Raffle Funds raised will benefit One Bread Foundation, Inc. Tax Identification: EIN: 47-4380980

California Corporation Number: 3791701

For additional Information: http://one-bread.org

What’s happening in your community? www.facebook.com/ DiabloGazette

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Stroke Support Group of Contra Costa County, November 9th. Meet in the Sterns Conference Room at John Muir Medical Center - Walnut Creek Campus (1601 Ygnacio Valley Road) from 7-9 p.m. Speaker Rev. Suzanne Tindall will discuss “Grief Following Illness and Loss”. After the program, attendees will break up into three coping groups: stroke survivors without aphasia, stroke survivors with aphasia, and caregivers and families of stroke survivors, each led by a trained professional. For more information contact Ann Dzuna at 925-376-6218.

Meetings are free and open to the public.

Walnut Creek Elks Lodge #1811 Free Thank-you Dinner, Sunday, November 15, at 2 P.M. (dinner is at 4:30 p.m.) honoring all active duty military, veterans, Blue Star Moms, Gold Star Moms, and city and county law/fire enforcement providers. Nonmilitary guests, $5. Bring a military I.D.; DD 214; Dep’t of Veterans Affairs Card; city/county fire, PD, CHP, sheriff’s I.D., or come in uniform. A family event. Each service member (and child) will receive a gift. Openseating buffet. Reservations call, 925935-1811 . Walnut Creek Elks Lodge #1811 1475 Creekside Drive Walnut Creek.

Fundraisers Pancake Breakfast - Supporting Veterans of foreign Wars – 2nd and 4th Sundays includes eggs, pancakes, sausage, beverage. 8 – 11 a.m. Willow Pass Road, Concord $5, $3 Children under 12. www. vfwpost1525.org Pillars of Hope – Black Tie Event November 14th – Oakhurst Country Club, Clayton 5:30-10 p.m.

Dinner, Silent Auction, Funds to facilitate the opening of a transitional safe house for victims of human trafficking; for ticket information, contact Lyssa at pillarsofhope@att. net. 925-457-3977.

Benefit Fashion Show – One Bread Foundation, Inc. – November 21 2:00 p.m. Fashions

by Francesca’s; Oak Park Christian Center; 2073 Oak Park blvd. Pleasant Hill Tickets $20-$25, on sale now at www.one-bread.org.

Diablo Gazette • NOVEMBER 2015 • Page 11 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette • (925)-298-9990

Clubs •American Association of University Women - Concord Branch www.aauwconcord.org •American Legion Post 171 - 5 p.m. third Tuesdays, Veterans Memorial Hall, Concord. 687-1427.

•B2F Business Networking Group - noon first and third Thursdays. 998-8844.

•Beachcomber Singles - Social and service activities for active adults age 45 and above. For more information call (510) 799-2207, Or visit our website: www. beachcombersingles.org/ •British Club - 11:30 a.m. first Wednesdays, Zio Fraedo’s, Pleasant Hill.

682-7978.

•Circle of Friends - second Mondays, Walnut Country Club, Concord. 9988844.

•Clayton Valley Garden Club- 7p.m. second Wednesdays, FebruaryNovember. Diamond Terrace, 6401 Center St., Clayton. Contact: www. claytonvalleygardenclub.org •Clutch Busters Square Dance Club - 7:30 p.m.-9:30 pm Thursdays, New dancers and those wanting brush-up are welcome. Willow Pass Community Center, 2748 E Olivera Rd, Concord.

686-3774.

•Concord Art Association - 12:50 p.m. second Tuesdays, Concord Library. 6465455.

•Concord Diablo Rotary - 12:15 p.m.

Wednesdays, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Concord. EXCEPT the 2nd Wednesday, meeting is at 6:15 P.M. at the Crowne Plaza. Contact EdiBirsan@Gmail. com or 510-812-8180 for more information.

•Clayton Valley/Concord Sunrise Rotary Club- 7 a.m. Thursdays, Oakhurst Country Club, Clayton. 689-7640 or www.claytonvalley-rotary.org.

New Meeting Place for Clayton Valley Woman’s Club -- Clayton Valley Woman’s Club will be meeting at St. John’s Episcopal Church, located at 5555 Clayton Road, Clayton. CVWC meets at 10a.m. on the second Tuesday of each month. New members are always welcome. For more information please call Sheila at 925-672-7947. www. claytonvalleywomansclub.org.

•Concord Garden Club - 9:30 a.m. third Tuesdays, Bethel Baptist Church, Concord. 687-2334.

•Concord Lions Club - 7 p.m. third Tuesdays, La Tapatia Mexican Restaurant, Concord. 687-3594.

•Concord Mystery Book Club - 2:30 p.m. second Sundays, Concord Library, 6465455.

•Concord Senior Club - ballroom dancing, 1 p.m. Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and 8 p.m. second Saturdays. 2727 Parkside Circle, Concord. 798-4557.

•Contra Costa Genealogical Society - 7 p.m. second Thursdays, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Concord. www.rootsweb.com/~cacccgs.

•Contra Costa Mineral & Gem Society - 7:30 p.m. second Mondays, Centre Concord. 429-2748 or www.ccmgs.org.

•Creekside Artists Guild Meets 2nd Wed. each month @ 7-8:30pm. Clayton Library Story Room, 6125 Clayton Rd., Clayton.

Arlene 673-9777, akiksen@aol.com •Concord United Methodist Women Monthly Meeting 510-758-4837 •Diablo Numismatic Society - 7 p.m. third Thursdays, Veterans Memorial Hall, Concord. 825-0649 or xsteamerx@aol. com.

•Diablo Toastmasters, every Thursday 7 – 9 p.m., Sizzler Rest., Concord. http://

www.diablotoastmasters.org.

•Diablo Valley Democratic Club - 7 p.m. third Wednesdays, Ygnacio Valley Library, Walnut Creek. 946-0469 or http://www.dvdems.org.

•Diablo Valley Macintosh Users Group - 6:30 p.m. 3rd Tuesdays. Bancroft Elementary School,Walnut Creek. 6891155 or www.dvmug.org.

•Diablo Valley Mustang Assoc meets 7:00 pm second Wednesdays each month at Fuddruckers Concord. All Mustang afficiados invited. Nancy Russell 925825-5994. www.dvma.org •Diablo Valley Wings, Chapter P of the Gold Wing Touring Association - 12:15 p.m. third Tuesdays, Sizzler, Concord.

686-3774 or http://www.GWTA-CADVW.org.

•East Bay Prospectors Club - 7 p.m.4th Wednesday, 1021 Detroit Ave., Unit D, Concord. 672-1863 or www.eastbaygpaa.webs.com.

•Ellen’s Guild - 10 a.m second Tuesdays, Family Stress Center, Concord. 672-5409 or www.familystresscenter.org.

•Hope Academy Concord Open House, Third Thursday of each month, 9 – 9:45 a.m. Reservations required: Judy Davies 687-7555; 5353 Concord Blvd. www.hopeacademyconcord.org •Kiwanis Club of Greater Concord - 8:15 a.m. Wednesdays, Buttercup Grill and Bar, 4301 Clayton Rd., Concord. 3725348.

•Knitting Group - 2 p.m. first Sundays, Concord Library. 646-5455.

•Knights Of Columbus, Concord Council 6038 Knights of Pythias, Lodge #162 meets on the 2nd Tuesday and 4th Thursday of each month. For more information and membership call Herb Lederman at (925) 631-0229or email: Herbleder_KOP@ Yahoo.com Meets 7:30 p.m. 1st Tuesday of the month, St.Bonaventure Church, 5562 Clayton Road, Contact Rayce at 683-9717 or rayce@aol.com.

•Mt Diablo Metal Detecting Club and have Meets at the Elks Lodge in Walnut Creek. 1475 Creekside Dr. 730 pm www.mdmdc.com meets on the second Wednesday.www. mdmdctreasurehunting.com.

•Soroptimist International Diablo Vista - 12:15 p.m. first, second and third Wednesdays, Sizzler, Concord. 672-2727 •National Marine Corps Business Network: www.nmcbn.com/ We normally meet the second Tuesday of each month.

Contact 925-680-8714.

•Odd Fellows - 3 p.m. second and fourth Tuesdays, Pacheco Lodge 117, Concord.

682-7358.

•Pleasant Hill Walnut Creek Mothers’ Club, http://www.phwcmothersclub.org •Rising Stars Toastmasters. This group was created for job seekers. For more information, contact Derrick Smith at (925) 381-4551 or go to risingstarstm. toastmastersclubs.org.

•Snowchasers Ski Club - Snow skiing and Snowboarding- First and Third Wednesdays of each month. Snowchasers meets 7:30 pm Sizzlers Concord.Contact iSteve and Rosalie Rhodes,925-228-8145. www.snowchasers.org •Toastmasters International - 7 p.m.

Mondays, Montecito of Concord, 6827211. Also, 7:15 p.m. Tuesdays, John Muir Concord Campus. Toastmasters can help! Our local club, Word Weavers, meets Mondays, 7:00 to 8:15 p.m. at 4756 Clayton Road, Concord 686-1818. www. toastmasters.org.

•Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1525 - 9 a.m. second Saturdays, Veterans Memorial Hall, Concord.

JOIN US FOR OUR THANKSGIVING BUFFET

CELEBRATE WITH PLATE & VINE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. With menu choices like Roasted Turkey and Savory Raisin Stuffing, Honey and Pineapple Glazed Ham, and Boursin Cheese Mashed Potatoes — your holiday is bound to be special. Choose from well-matched accompaniments and holiday dessert offerings, including both homemade Pumpkin and Pecan Pies.

Come celebrate with us, Thursday, November 26th, 2015.

Our Buffet will be open from Noon to 5pm

CALL FOR RESERVATIONS TODAY (925) 680-1700 OR VISIT: PlateAndVineRestaurant.com FREE VALET PARKING FOR OUR PATRONS

Phone 925-680-1700

1970 Diamond Blvd Concord, CA 94520

Diablo Gazette • NOVEMBER 2015 • Page 12 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette •(925)-298-9990

Family Events Sing with Diablo Choral Artists!

“Diablo Valley’s OWN chamber choir performs significant works of sacred and secular choral music, and has openings for all voice parts (esp. tenors and basses). Rehearsals are Mondays, 7-9:30 pm at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1924 Trinity Avenue, Wal-nut Creek. Mark Tuning, Music Director. See www. vmschorus.org for details and more information, or call 925-6807089,info@dcaschorus.org

Photos by Micah

Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Walnut Creek Raises $335,000 Alzheimer’s disease is the nation’s sixth-leading cause of death. Walk to End Alzheimer’s at Heather Farm Park last month brought more than 2,000 walkers and 220+ teams and raised over $335,000.

Diablo Gazette photographer, Micah was there to capture a few moments. From the photos, it was an exceptional event. Congratulations to the top Teams. (figures from www. act.alz.org)

1st Team Montecito Concord $12,775.00 2nd Team Mammini Maraccini $10545.00 3rd Mindful Movement Walnut Creek $8,726.00 4th Nanny’s FABs $6,525.00 5th TeamKathy $6,262.11

Diamond Terrace 3rd Annual Vet Dinner – Flag Ceremony, Chili Dinner, Country Singer Denny Colleret, Honoring Resident Veterans and VFW Members. $5 Donation – November 11 6 P.M. Diamond Terrace Retirement Community RSVP by November 5 to Elizabeth Sanches 925-524-5100.

TAPESTRY VOCAL AND HANDBELL ENSEMBLE presents concerts in Support of Swords to Plowshares, providing services and care for our American Veterans.

November Nocturnes : Free Concerts -- Music That Celebrates the Beauty of Autumn and Pride in Our American Herit-age. Cindy Krausgrill, Director. Open to the Public.

Friday, November 13, 2015 – 7:00 P.M. Walnut Creek United Methodist Church 1543 Sunnyvale Ave., Walnut Creek, CA Saturday, November 14, 2015 – 7:30 P.M. Clayton Valley Presbyterian Church;1578 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton, CA Sunday, November 15, 2015 – 4:00 P.M.; St. John’s Parish 5555 Clayton Rd., Clayton, CA For more information visit www.

TapestryRingersandSingers.org; Contact: Robin Fahr (925) 989-3648

The

Presented by

Nov. 20 - Jan 3

Government

Concord City Council, 1st, 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 6:30 pm, Council Chambers, 1950 Parkside Dr, Concord. Or watch online at http:// www.ci.concord.ca.us/citygov/ agendas/council/ Concord Planning Commission 1st and 3rd Wednesdays 7 p.m. Concord Chamber, Concord Civic Center 1950 Parkside dr. www.cityofconcord.org Clayton City Council, 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, 7pm. Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Rd, Clayton. http://ci.clayton.ca.us Martinez City Council, 1st and 3rd Wednesdays. City Hall, 7 pm, 525 Henrietta Street, Martinez.

Listen online at http://www. granicus.com/streamingMediaHelp/ minimumSystem.htm, http://www. cityofmartinez.org

Pleasant Hill City Council, 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, 7:30 pm, Council Chambers of the Pleasant Hill City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill. Follow online at http://www.ci.pleasant-hill.ca.us/ media/

Visual Arts/Theatre/ Music

BG Craft Fest Saturday November 7th and Sunday, November 8th 10:00am – 4:00pm Walnut Creek.

The Bedford Gallery brings together the best of Bay Area crafters and artists for the Eighth Annual BG Craft Fest. This curated festival is a celebration of handmade gifts, featuring an array of unique items from jewelry to home goods. Held inside the gal-lery, visitors can shop the Craft Fest and see the current exhibitions, The Art of the Brick and Became by Jud Bergeron – admission is free both days! Bedford Gallery is located in the Lesher Center for the Arts at 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek.

Holiday Faire, Concord Sunday, November 22 11:00 -4:00pm, Clayton Valley Charter High School gymnasium. 1101 Alberta Way. Raffles, prizes throughout the day, student and vendor booths, band and choir, Hungry Eagle Food Truck, photos with Santa Claus. For Info email pfcholidayfaire@ claytonvalley.org

Walnut Creek City Council, 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, 7 pm. Watch online at http://www.walnut-creek. org/services/citizen/granicus.asp

❄ Skating Academy ❄ Family Skate Night ❄ Private Parties ❄ Birthday Parties ❄ Corporate Parties ❄ Friday Night Fun Night ❄ And More!

A Main Street Martinez Event • PO Box 776, Martinez, CA 94553 • 925.228.3577 • www.MainStreetMartinez.org

Media Sponsors

Holiday Frolic & Snow Park Dec. 4 Light Parade • Snow Play Area Santa & More www.downtownsnow.com

Art Cottage -.Two Women/ Two Views Artist Reception, November 7 2P to 5P, 2p.m. to 5p.m. Live Ukelele music, sing along and re-freshments. Art exhibit runs November 3-28. Tues-Fri 11A-5P. Saturdays 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 2238 Mt. Diablo St. Concord. 925-956-3342.

Free and open to the public.

Animal Portraits and Cityscapes Art Exhibit by Dan San Souci.

November 6 – December 5 at Jennifer Perlmutter Gallery, 3620 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Lafayette. 925-2841485.

Diablo Choral Artists – Once Upon a Starry Night – Friday December 4th, 8 p.m. at St. Paul Episcopal Church, 1924 Trinity Ave. Walnut Creek; Sunday December 6 at St. Stevens Episcopal Church 66 St. Stevens Drive, Orinda.

Concert features works by Lauridsen, Whitacre, Victoria, Mathias, Chatman and more - with harp, piano and organ! Includes a Christmas carol sing-along. Music Director, Mark Tuning, accompanist, John R.S. Walko. Tickets available from choral members, at the door, prices and go to www. brownpapertickets.com .

Children’s Original Art and Book Show Reception December 12; in coordination with Clayton Books at Jennifer Perlmutter Gallery, 3620 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Lafayette. 925-2841485

Diablo Gazette • NOVEMBER 2015 • Page 13 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette • (925)-298-9990

Diablo Ballet Kicks Their 22nd Season with ‘A Swingin’ Holiday and More’ Diablo Ballet opens the their 22nd season, 2015-2016, celebrating the power of dance with “A Swingin’ Holiday and More,” November 13 - 15 at the Del Valle Theatre in Walnut Creek.

The 2015 Edition of “A Swingin’ Holiday and More” was created in 2012 by Sean Kelly, a former resident choreographer for the national tour of the musical Billy Elliot and former principal of Houston Ballet. It is an exhilarating compilation of 30’s and 40’s holiday music of favorite tunes by legends Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, Nat “King” Cole, and Wynton Marsalis, as well as jazzy renditions of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Suite, performed by the Diablo Ballet Swing Orchestra, under the musical direction of Greg Sudmeier.

The program also features the Diablo Ballet Premiere of the awardwinning, classical Tchaikovsky Dances duet by Norbert Vesak set to Tchaikovsky's score from the opera, Eugene Onegin. This romantic pas de deux will be staged by former San Francisco Ballet Principal Dancer and Diablo Ballet's regisseur, Joanna Berman. Also included in Diablo Ballet’s performance, Resident

Choreographer and dancer Robert Dekkers, presents a reprisal of his acclaimed 2014 work, “AnOther,” to Yann Tiersen’s music from the film, “Amelie.”

For 22 years, Diablo Ballet has been the professional dance company presenting acclaimed classical and contemporary works for Contra Costa County. Through the renowned PEEK Youth Outreach Program, the Company brings arts education to over 5,000 elementary school students in under-served Alameda and Contra Costa counties each year.

PEEK has been recognized by policy makers of the Senate, Congress and Assembly for its outstanding contribution to the community.

Performance dates are November 13-14 at 8 p.m. and on November 1415 at 2 p.m. at the Del Valle Theatre, 1963 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek.

Tickets are $24-$44 and are available through the Lesher Center (925) 9437469 or online www.lesherartscenter. org.

For more information call the Diablo Ballet office at (925) 9431775 or visit the website at www. diabloballet.org.

Dancers Robert Dekkers and Tetyana Martyanova Photo by: Bérenger Zyla

Get “Oohs” and “Aahs” on Thanksgiving with Fresh Herbs Preparing for a Thanksgiving feast can be a major undertaking with menu planning, purchasing, cooking, and decorating. When planning the meal, don’t forget to add herbs to your shopping list. They will draw lots of oohs and aahs from your happy guests.

Fresh herbs add wonderful depth and flavor to almost every dish.

Cooking with fresh herbs enhances the flavors of food. There are many varieties of fresh herbs available for the cook to experiment with, without adding fat or calories to their recipes.

Herbs and spices are often categorized together. However herbs come from the leafy part of a plant while spices refer to the seeds and are always dry. Herbs fall into two categories: the 'fine' herbs, such as

basil, chervil, rosemary and thyme, and the 'robust' herbs like mint, savory, dill and sage. Generally all herbs should be added toward the end of cooking. After cooking too long, they give a bitter taste to the food. Tips: • Best when picked fresh.

• Some will keep up to 2 weeks when refrigerated and sealed in small plastic bags.

• Refrigerate basil and dill with stem or roots in water, covered with plastic. Most herbs rot quickly.

• Wash when you’re ready to use.

If they’re wet, wrap in paper towel.

Keep at room temperature until the leaves dry.

• When using for the first time, add small amounts to the recipe. If necessary, you can always add more.

Roasted Herbed Squash Ingredients: 1 acorn squash 2 sprigs fresh rosemary 1 tsp fresh thyme Olive oil Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Cut the squash in half lengthwise.

Scoop out the center of the squash, removing all the seeds. Cut the squash in pieces (TIP - follow the natural ribbing of the squash to get even pieces).

Place the squash in an unlined baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil.

Season with fresh thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Bake for 30 minutes, or until fork tender.

Diablo Gazette • NOVEMBER 2015 • Page 14 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette •(925)-298-9990

Community Service: RotaCare, The BiPartisan Value Set

by Edi Birsan Concord City Councilman

The acidic divide in the political spectrum that is inflicted upon us from Washington and elsewhere gives us the absurd disrespect of collective action in common values. It is in the realm of community service that we can begin to re-connect with those of different political leanings to accomplish neighborhood enhancements, societal goodwill and plain old doing the right thing.

Take for example the issue of health care, a hot button especially with those residents who may not have insurance (even with Obama Care out there).

On the one side is those who decry any tax payer money going to help those not covered or without insurance. Then there are those that point out that if there is no care that the Emergency Room is the point of care and it is so much more expensive and the results in human misery is so much greater.

Both sides and the spectrum in between can agree then that RotaCare is a shared valued community service.

As one of 11 free clinics the Concord RotaCare (http://www.rotacarebayarea.org/clinics/concord. html) is unique in that it is mobile and sets up Thursdays at Cambridge Elementary School on Lacy Lane in Concord. They provide for people without insurance a FREE urgent medical care clinic for adults as well as dispense medications relating to urgent care treatment. They also have a Women’s clinic at the Salvation Army Center on Clayton Road every fourth Wednesday from 5-8PM. You can schedule appointments on Thursdays

GREAT NEWS!!

From Claycord.com -- “We’ve talked about Kolton several times throughout the past year. He’s the little boy from Claycord who had a rare form of cancer. Children’s Hospital now says Kolton’s scans are all CLEAR after six rounds of chemo, two surgeries, MIBG therapy and a stem cell transplant. He’s starting

The Concord RotaCare mobile van provides portable medical examinations.

between 1 and 2PM at 925-429-6409 The mobile van features two examination rooms between a fully equipped nurses station/staging area. It has wall sections that can be extended out 2 feet on either side to allow for more room during the examinations.

They are supported by the Rotary clubs in the area (with the lead by Concord Rotaryhttp://www. concordcarotary.org/) who provide the volunteer staff and have spear headed the funding drive to support the operation. Concord-Diablo Rotary and the Concord-Clayton Valley Sunrise Rotary has provided support in community relations and press as well as volunteers. In the last year they have served about 1200 people keeping approximately 500 out of the emergency rooms of the community hospitals as well as providing

antibody therapy now and hopes to make it home for Halloween — let’s send him lots of good wishes.”

Here is the back story on Kolton Grimstad. Kolton was diagnosed last year on Nov. 11th with Stage 3 high risk mic amplified neuroblastoma. It is a rare childhood cancer that stems from immature nerve cells around the adrenal gland and kidney. His was grapefruit sized, and attached to his kidney, adrenal gland, liver and major blood vessels such as the vena cava. He went through six rounds of chemotherapy (every 2-3 weeks for 5-7 days in-patient), two surgeries, one treatment of MIBG radiation (IV radiation, lead lined room for 5-6 days), heavy chemo and auto bone marrow/stem cell transplant, and 12 rounds of beam radiation.

He just started his first of six rounds of antibody therapy. That is a new treatment of antibodies infusion IV every three weeks for 5-10 days inpatient.

Kolton just turned four on September 11th. He has a baby sister named Emma who will be two in January.

preventive/meditative care to those without insurance -- a prime example where the partisan divide can be ignored and people helping people without government involvement can unite a community.

Likewise, when you go to the Friends of the Library at all the public libraries, again you will see residents helping neighbors. Project Caring Hands (925 952-2999) deals with seniors who need assistance to combat not only loneliness but also basic transportation. As a society we need to remember that we share so much good will towards each other and have avenues to express it, that we should not be so hostile on the political front since after all we are all neighbors trying to do the best for our communities and community service is something that we can all share.

“Through it all, he’s been so happy and loving to everyone. Doctors, nurses, family and friends have all pitched in so much to help with everything,” Kolton’s mom, Nicole says.

Claycord.com posted FundMe to help with medical bills, and the local community stepped up.

“There’s so many people to thank. I’d like to thank Claycord for posting the FundMe link and Buskirk Chevron for the very generous donation last December, as well as the other 220+ donators who contributed to our son’s Above, Kolton Grimstad, 4, and his sister, Emma, 2. fund.”

Across, Kolton and his dad.

She obviously couldn’t the staff at UCSF and John Muir in name them all to be fair, Walnut Creek and Concord. and to respect those who wish to The Grimstads have much to be remain anonymous. But the donor grateful this Thanksgiving. So do list include family, friends, their all of us.

Happy stories such as this employers, Other families with demonstrate how fortunate we are cancer patients, and plenty of people to live within communities of such they don’t know who responded from generous caring people. our communities, and of course all

Diablo Gazette • NOVEMBER 2015 • Page 15 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette • (925)-298-9990

CSAA Insurance Group $40,000 Donation Secures Mobile Crayon Trailer Danville Resident’s Idea, The Crayon Initiative, Making Big Impact on the Community Walnut Creek -- CSAA Insurance Group recently donated a new mobile crayon recycling trailer to The Crayon Initiative helping them accomplish its mission of donating newly recycled

crayons to children in local hospitals and art therapy programs, enabling the nonprofit to expand and increase the number of crayons delivered to children in need.

Bryan Ware of Danville founded The Crayon Initiative in 2014. Within a year, NBC Nightly News featured a national story on The Crayon Initiative and the impact it is making on the community. It collects discarded crayons, remanufactures them and provides new packs to hospital pediatric wards. Crayons offer hospitalized children a creative outlet for self-expression, which may provide needed psychological

support, alleviate feelings of anxiety, and contribute to maintaining a sense of childhood normalcy. The mobile trailer will help The Crayon Initiative bring the crayon recycling process and benefits to more hospitals and organizations in need, including under-funded schools and other charitable organizations.

What inspired Bryan to create this program? Art was a passion of Bryan’s from a young age. Bryan moved through middle school and high school, under the direction of dedicated art teachers. Art became a part of who he was. He found himself shifting from one interest to another: drawing, drafting, architecture, woodshop, and photography.

He began his own company finding creative and artistic solutions to packaging problems. By 2006, Bryan’s business was going strong.

He was married and had 2 young boys. They frequented family friendly restaurants where often crayons were given to the kids to help keep them occupied while waiting for their food. Sometimes they would bring the crayons home, but more often the crayons were left on the table after his family had completed their meal.

One evening, in 2011, Bryan and his family were out celebrating his 40th birthday. As the boys were coloring with crayons provided by the

Above, Bryan Ware, founder of The Crayon Initiative, was joined by CSAA Insurance Group representatives including (l-r) Vanessa Chan, Theresa Young, Danielle Cagan, Annaliza Constantino, and Jason Willett. Below, crayons are melted for recycling.

Across, old crayons are molded into new crayons.

restaurant, Bryan asked their server “what happens to these crayons after we leave if we don’t take them.” He was shocked to find out that any crayons put on the table, whether slightly used or not even touched, had to be thrown away. They end up in landfills. Bryan took those crayons with him that night. He was convinced that the life of restaurant crayons didn’t have to end there. It became his personal challenge to find a creative way to re-circulate the endless supply of free materials and bring the Arts to children everywhere.

The wheels started turning. The ideas started flowing. The Crayon Initiative was born.

“The work we do has a significant impact on our local community, but there is so much more we can do with a traveling workforce and volunteers from other communities,” said Ware.

“The mobile crayon recycling trailer that CSAA Insurance Group funded will advance our mission to ensure that children have the tools they need to enjoy the healthful benefits of art and creativity, while reducing waste in landfills.”

Crayons are not biodegradable and create a waxy sludge that may not break down for centuries. To date,

The Crayon Initiative has diverted nearly 750,000 crayons – thousands of pounds – destined for landfills.

The official ribbon-cutting of the Crayon Initiative’s mobile crayon recycling trailer took place at CSAA Insurance Group headquarters in Walnut Creek last month. CSAA Insurance Group has been recognized as one of the most communityminded companies in the U.S. by Points of Light and Bloomberg, LP. How it works. (The Crayon Initiative photo series.)

The Crayon Initiative organizes crayon collections of unwanted crayons, remanufactures them, and provides them to hospitals that are caring for our kids. For more information, visit www. thecrayoninitiative.org.

Diablo Gazette • NOVEMBER 2015 • Page 16 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette •(925)-298-9990

Climbing Kilimanjaro Finding Gratitude at High Altitude

Journey-man’s Journal

by Johnny Joyrider

Looking out my office window one day in June, I thought about all the possible presents I could give myself for my upcoming birthday. In years past I’d spent my birthdays either in a restaurant or propped up on a barstool. But this needed to be different. This needed to be meaningful, like “bucket-list” meaningful. After all, this approaching birthday was the big one; the big 50.

And then the idea hit me: I’ve hiked up Mt. Diablo, why not climb the great Mt. Kilimanjaro?

In my younger days I climbed a couple of California’s highest peaks (Mt. Whitney at 14,505, and Mt. Shasta at 14,179 feet high), but that was many years ago, and I have had no legitimate high altitude climbing experience. Aside from the altitude challenges, there would be the physical conditioning that would be required, and all the planning and logistics for traveling halfway around the world, like passports and travel visas, obtaining all the climbing gear, getting all the immunizations (most notably for malaria and yellow fever), and the list would go on. But the decision was made, the adventure would be meaningful and I had only 5 months to get it together.

Located in northern Tanzania just south of the border with Kenya, Mt. Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain on the continent of Africa (and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world), standing tall at 19,341 feet above sea level.

Although plenty famous in its own right, it was made more so when Ernest Hemingway penned “The Snows of Kilimanjaro”, one of his greatest works. The ice caps mentioned in Hemingway’s short story have been slowly eroding over the last one hundred years, due largely to climate changes, and are widely expected to be non-existent within the next twenty years.

There are actually three distinct peaks on Mt. Kilimanjaro, although Uhuru is widely recognized as the “summit” as it’s the highest point of the three. The mountain is really a very tall volcano,

Mt. Kilimanjaro

or stratovolcano to be more accurate, but it’s also considered to be dormant since the last eruption took place nearly 360,000 years ago.

Since I would only spend a week camped on its slopes, I considered the odds to be in my favor that no eruption would take place during my visit.

Although there are officially six different routes up the mountain, I chose to climb the Umbwe route as it’s the steepest and most direct route available.

Spending a day to acclimatize before the climb and adjusting to the changes in altitude and time zones, I visited a local game reserve. There’s nothing like seeing an elephant or giraffe in their natural habitat, without fences and free to roam as nature intended.

Making our way back to the safari vehicle, I noticed our driver, Onesmo, walking across the dirt parking lot wearing handmade shoes crafted out of old tires, tied together with rubber straps and adorned with colorful beads. I asked him if he could make me a pair. “Sure,” he replied, “I can make you a pair for $10.” Without hesitation I ordered 3 pairs, but instead of giving him $30, I handed him a $100 bill, knowing well that it was unlikely he had any change. A week later, after having climbing up and down the mountain, Onesmo was waiting for me in the driving rain,

holding 3 pairs of hand-made rubber shoes. “I hope you like them” he said, “this time I made them from a brand new motorcycle tire”. My faith in humanity-- restored.

The small bus rattled and shimmied up the dirt path toward the entrance gate and as it gasped for breath and parked, out of the forest came dozens of men. Dressed in flip flops, old ragged clothing, and desperate for work, they would each make their case for being a porter (those who carry gear, food and water) on our climb up the mountain.

While the gear was being sorted out, our small group of nine climbers settled down to a lunch fit for royalty. There were large quantities of fresh fruits, vegetables and breads, soups and salads, sandwiches, cookies and pastries; not unlike a typical American buffet. As we laughed and ate, I noticed that the porters were each taking one loaf of bread and stuffing it into their packs, nothing else. They would survive for the week on this one loaf of bread with just an occasional supplement of watered down soup. Shocked at the sight and overcome with guilt, I grabbed a pocketful of biscuits, cookies and energy bars from our table, and offered them to several of the porters. Politely, they each declined with a suspicious “no thank you”. As the days progressed, I learned that the

Diablo Gazette • NOVEMBER 2015 • Page 17 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette • (925)-298-9990

porters were not allowed to accept any food from the climbers. Once out of sight and on the trail they would all thankfully accept the gift of food. For the balance of the trip, after each meal I repeated this effort by filling my pockets with strips of bacon and sausage, biscuits and pastries, and handing the food to the porters along the trail.

The primary difference between a general porter and a personal porter, aside from having previous expedition experience, is the ability to speak at least a few words of English. But even then, the majority of the porters had such a limited understanding of English (although far more than my understanding of Swahili), that most of the communication between us was made through hand gestures, movements of the eyes, and a lot of smiling and laughing. In fact, I’m certain we had several complete conversations between us with neither person having any idea of what the other was saying.

Porters typically worked 12 or more hours a day, carrying heavy loads on their backs and atop their heads (including ice chests, propane tanks, food, water, tents and gear) all for the sum of $1.25 a day; just over $.10 cents an hour. It was incomprehensible for me to understand. The lucky ones, the personal porters, earned up to $5 a day, but worked longer hours carrying wood and water to each campsite. Most people I know wouldn’t get out of bed for $5 an hour, much less for the day.

The climb itself was generally straight-forward and what you might imagine. There were wide paths in some places and single track trails in others, but all the while the trail pushed upward.

There were two exceptions, where the trail became very steep and required one to literally climb on all fours, or to traverse the sides of a cliff with several hundred feet of drop off and exposure; not for the faint of heart for sure.

On our last evening before leaving for the summit, our group of nine climbers sat in a tent discussing our plans for the final push to the summit. As we discussed what gear we would need and what to expect at high altitude, one of the porters came into our tent and asked if we would like hot coffee or tea at the summit. If we did, he offered to carry it to the summit for a fee of $2 per person. As the porter left the tent, we discussed it among the group.

To my amazement, several members of the group declined to participate, feeling that they were being taken advantage of with the porter’s request

of $2 per person. After all, they argued, a porter’s daily wages were $1.25, not $2.00. This group of climbers suggested that we negotiate the fee back down to $1.25 so that it would be consistent with the porter’s normal wages. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Perhaps it was the stress of high altitude, or the daily reminders of how hard the porters had been working, but my emotions got the better of me as I stood up and spoke forcefully to the group.

“Let me understand this” I said. “You’re recommending that we negotiate a few quarters each out of the pocket of the porter so that we’ll be satisfied that we’re getting a fair deal for his services”? Raising my voice further, I commented “You’d like to offer the porter $1.25 for his services of climbing 9 hours up the mountain side, in the dark, at high altitude, and then 9 hours back down the mountain to camp. And for his time and effort, you’d like to pay him $1.25”? I barked “You each paid more than that for the wool socks you’re wearing”. Turning to leave the tent, I passionately

quipped, “I’ll gladly pick up the tab for everyone.

Enjoy your coffee at the summit”.

Finally the time had arrived. It was 11:00 PM and dressed in several layers of warm clothing and wearing headlamps, we began the slow and methodical climb upward, made more difficult by the thinning of the oxygen in the air. It would be an all-nighter in the literal sense.

Throughout the night, fighting heavy wind and rain, we climbed up the near vertical path before reaching the summit at day light. Cold and exhausted, but exhilarated by the prospect of success, we made the summit nearly nine hours after setting out. It was a welcome site to see our porter at the peak pouring hot coffee for all.

Standing on the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro as the sun began to rise on the very morning of my 50th birthday was an incredible feeling. With a temperature of -5 degrees Fahrenheit, and with each breath taking more deliberate effort, my main concern was making my way back down the mountain. With gravel flying in all directions, I made my way down.

Several days later after finally reaching the bottom of the mountain, I sat on a bench contemplating all that I had experienced over the last week. And overwhelmed with both gratitude and guilt, I felt compelled to give back to one of the porters (Mkula) that helped me so much during my journey. Reaching into my backpack, I pulled out several items that I thought he could use (water bottles, headlamps and a first-aid kit).

His face lit up with a smile as I tried to explain to him with hand gestures, that I wanted to give him my climbing gear (he did not speak English, nor did I speak Swahili). With genuine thankfulness, he accepted what I had to offer. Not satisfied that I was doing enough, I reached back into my backpack and gave Mkula all my clothing and gear including the very shoes I was wearing. After all I reasoned, the only thing I really needed was my plane ticket home.

It’s often been quoted that once you’ve been to Africa, you’ll never be the same. And I can attest that in my case that is certainly true. The pure beauty of the country is overwhelming, and the stark realities of having seen the enormous hardships that people were forced to live with, are memories that have not left me. I set out to climb a mountain, but came back a different person; enormously appreciative of all that I’ve been given.

Diablo Gazette • NOVEMBER 2015 • Page 18 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette •(925)-298-9990

Resident Tales Sponsored by the Diamond Terrace 55+ retirement community in Clayton.

WWII Bomber Crash-Landing

by Marie Sutton During World War II, I was stationed at a Naval Air Base in Brooklyn, as a Navy Wave. There were still lots of sailors stationed at Floyd Bennett Field.

At age 22, I arrived in the big city of New York, from Milledgeville, Georgia, by train and then proceeded to find my way on the subway and bus to this remote air station. It amazes me now to even think of attempting such an assignment— youth has its advantages.

There were just a few Waves, as we were called, already living at the base. I was assigned to a secretarial office in the main administration building. We were housed in a large dormitory building with huge rooms that had many double deck bunks, with a living room between two bunk rooms. I was on the second floor. Soon the place was filled with new, incoming Waves (enlisted women). The Wave officers were generally older women and college graduates, who had separate quarters, in what was known as “Officer Country”, where we were not even allowed to step on the grass in front of their building. This differentiation (for lack of a better word) was stifling—“for safety and discipline conflict” was the excuse given to us.

Since this was an air station there were many different types of airplanes, too many to count, and the ground area was huge. City bus service brought us to the base from the Subway at Flatbush Avenue and then it proceeded on to cross a large bridge that led to Long Island. Instead of buses to get us around on the base, we had “cattle cars” (semitrucks that were open in the middle where we stand to ride to our stops: offices, “chow place”, shops, medic’s brigs, etc.) It was a very large Navy base with hundreds of personnel.

One day, another Wave whom I didn’t know yet, came up to me and asked if I wanted to take an airplane ride that evening. Of course I said yes!!

I had only been up in an airplane once before and that had been when I first arrived at the air station. Several of us had the privilege of a flight in the Admiral’s plane so I was ready for another adventure. It was 1943, and I was young and ready for exhilarating experiences! I was delighted to go!

And I didn’t give it another thought, except for how exciting our upcoming adventure would be.

Night had fallen and we met the two Navy pilots and soon found ourselves aboard a bomber plane— one that had no seats for us—just a round glass in the middle of the aircraft, where gunners would look out at the enemy. I can remember peering out this oval window onto the interesting world below.

We had not seats, remember, but didn’t need them as we were enthralled with the changing scenery below us.

Swiftly, we were flying over New York City and the many flickering lights of Manhattan. Even though we were in the midst of a World War, the lights were on in the city. It was a fascinating sight that I shall never forget. We flew over Manhattan and up the coast to Connecticut, and then turned back for another fantastic view of the largest city in the United States. Then we began our return to the borough of Brooklyn and Floyd Bennett Field.

It had been an exciting adventure that had cost me nothing—so far.

Flying over the based I did not sense any difficulty. We were busy looking down at the

interesting sights below us. Finally, we made our approach for landing and something was wrong.

We didn’t glide to a natural stop. Even with my inexperience at flying, I could sense that something wasn’t right. The wheels wouldn’t come down! And when the airplane hit the ground, it turned on its side onto the grassy area of the tarmac! What a landing! Suddenly, there was one of the handsome, young pilots, out of the cockpit, coming toward us and screaming: “You girls have to get off this plane, immediately!!”—then the truth came out—“You aren’t supposed to even be on this plane!!”

When we heard that, we started to scramble to get off as quickly as we could. Only the exit wasn’t where we had got on just a short while ago. It was

up high, above us! Perhaps the pilot helped shove us out of the plane, but soon we found ourselves running in the dark, across the tarmac, to the tune of screaming sirens and a parade of fire trucks and an ambulance. It was very dark. We could see our barracks in the far distance so we headed in that direction. Just before we arrived there, we skirted some foxholes, and soon made it safely into the barracks; no one knowing that we had just had the adventure of a lifetime. We couldn’t tell anyone that we had been in a crash landing. It wasn’t safe, so no one could know that I had been somewhere I shouldn’t have been, an adventure that resulted in the crash landing of a bomber airplane… until now!

Diablo Gazette • NOVEMBER 2015 • Page 19 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette • (925)-298-9990

A lifetime of smiles

by Robert H. Waldman, D.D.S.

TOP 3 MISUNDERSTOOD COMMENTS FROM YOUR DENTIST In the 21 century, most dentists and doctors prefer their patients play a participating role in their treatment decisions. They like to work as a team with their patients, giving recommendations of treatment.

Many times there are several different options to treat the same issue. Unfortunately, too many patients listen for “a sense of urgency “before they commit to treatment.

But doctors and dentist prefer not to alarm patients into treatment.

This leads to some common miscommunications between dentist and patient. Here are the top 3 most misunderstood comments from your dentist.

1. Dentist: “You have a small amount of decay. There is no rush but we should take care of this at some point.”

Patient hears:”Decay”…that’s not a problem treatment is optional.

Patient thinks: It doesn’t hurt, why fix it. Is my dentist trying to sell me more dentistry than I need?

Dr. Rob says, “Actually, decay is a problem. It means you have a cavity.

If you don’t treat the cavity it will get bigger which means the decay is more extensive. When that happens there is a bigger risk of possible root canal therapy, crowns or even loss of a tooth. Fixing a simple cavity is not very invasive or expensive unless you wait until it hurts, then the treatment will become more invasive and more expensive. “ 2. Dentist: “You have very old worn fillings and you should consider replacing them.”

Patient hears: I have old fillings.

Patient thinks: It doesn’t hurt why fix it. Is my dentist trying to sell me more dentistry than I need?

“When fillings get old and worn they start to leak around the edges which means bacteria can seep in undetected and can eat away at your tooth. This will lead to pain and more extensive and expensive treatment,” cautions Dr. Rob. 3. Dentist: “As we have discussed previously, you have periodontal disease. I recommend that you come in 3 or 4 times a year to get your teeth cleaned so we can try and control the bacteria attacking your gums.

Patient hears: “Recommended”, I have the option to come in 3 or 4 times.

Patient thinks: Just because no one said “I have to” means it is optional.

Is my dentist

trying to sell me more dentistry than I need?

“When a patient with periodontal disease waits 6 months between cleanings, the bacteria have a lot more time to re-establish in the gums. This usually causes more detachment (gums pulling away from the tooth causing pockets for bacteria to live in) and can lead to continued bone loss. Studies show, when you have your teeth cleaned every 3-4 months the bacteria won’t have the time to attack your gums and your gums have a better chance to heal,” Dr. Rob explains.

“At my office, (as well as at most dental offices) we try and explain the problem and treatments in detail but never say to a patient ‘You MUST fix this or else’. I feel that after hearing all the options it is ultimately up to the patient to accept treatment or not. “ Dentists and doctors are trying to help you, the patient, be as healthy as possible. Just because they don’t say fix it immediately or that you must accept treatment, does not mean the treatment is not important.

You should try to fix your problem without delay. Waiting for pain is the most expensive and uncomfortable path to proper healthcare.

As always, Swish, Floss, Brush and Swish again.

-Dr. RobSee his ad above.

Diablo Gazette • NOVEMBER 2015 • Page 20 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette •(925)-298-9990

Featured Artists Approach the Easel Differently Alice Martinez and Julie Van Wyk are friends in more ways than one. They are both nature painters with different styles, mediums and approach.

They are also musicians who play the ukulele.

Each woman has a different approach to painting.

They are the November featured artists at the aRt Cottage gallery in Concord. Their artist reception is November 7th from 2 to 5. The public is invited.

There will be live ukulele music with a sing along as well as refreshments. This is a free event.

Alice is a local watercolorist living in Concord.

She studied under Joy Broom at DVC and has enjoyed being an artist since childhood. For the past seven years, tropical watercolors have become an important part of her life. The spirit of "Aloha", a word that means more than just hello and goodbye, is a feeling that is difficult to express verbally. Alice finds it easier to express by painting. The spirituality flows from her heart to her paintings.

Ideas for her tropical watercolor paintings come from different sources. Some come from pictures

by Julie van Wyk

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taken on the island of Maui. Others seem to pop up in her head, and when they do, “it's an exciting experience, especially when I have run out of ideas,” Alice states.

All paintings are drawn freehand on thick 300 pound watercolor paper. She tries to achieve a balanced composition, and a color scheme that includes both complimentary and contrasting colors, sometimes using colors that are not normally found in nature. For example, a white plumeria becomes a blue plumeria with rosy red leaves or, burgundy red bamboo canes. “To start with a concept or idea and a blank sheet of watercolor paper, to a finished painting, that gives me a great sense of accomplishment.”

Julie van Wyk started with watercolor, but now she paints in acrylic and has done oil as well as charcoal and pastel. Most of her paintings come

by Julie van Wyk

from nature, mainly from her own photos.

She is a traveler and although her most recent paintings are from Scotland, her most favorite areas to paint are Yosemite and the Lake Tahoe region.

Julie received her Fine Arts Certificate from the Mt. Diablo Adult School. She is a member of the Clayton Artists Guild and the Clayton Valley Art Collaborative, Las Juntas Arts Association, and is a member of the Pacific School of Design. She has displayed in many local venues including the Martinez County Offices, John Muir Hospital, Pleasant Hill City Offices, Diablo Valley College Library and private businesses around the county.

TWO WOMEN/TWO VIEWS exhibit is free and open to the public through November 29 at the aRt Cottage in Concord, 2238 Mt. Diablo St.; Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

by Alice Martinez

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