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IT’S YOUR PAPER www.claytonpioneer.com
October 10, 2008
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Oktoberfest celebrates beer and ... frogs GREGG MANNING
MAYOR’S CORNER
Now is the time to prepare to vote Well, September is over and I feel fall is here and winter is not far behind. California is not like the East Coast, where there are four distinct seasons, but there are changes here. We are out of September, which I find to be the hottest month of the year, and into October, where we can expect snow in the Sierra. If it is snowing in the Sierra, then the November elections will soon be here. Today’s Pioneer has more important information on the eight candidates running for the three open seats on the Clayton City Council. On Sept. 29, there was a candidate’s forum at the library. My impression was that none of the candidates separated themselves from the pack. I find these forums an interesting chance to see all of the candidates in person. I believe those who
See Mayor, page 8
André Gensburger/Clayton Pioneer
MANDY WEST, 1-1/2, AND HER SISTER JENNA, 5, fish for green frogs while others find a splash or two of cool water helped to beat the heat at this year’s Oktoberfest, Sept. 27 and 28. An estimated 15,000 attended the event put on by the Clayton Business and Community Association. Several thousand of those gathered under the huge tent with steins of beer and plates of sausages and danced to the polkas of The Internationals. This is a major fundraiser for the organization. The CBCA supports a variety of community causes and school programs including generous scholarships to graduating seniors.
Clayton Museum honors CVHS’ 50 years ANDRÉ GENSBURGER Clayton Pioneer
John Rubiales was a junior the year Clayton Valley High School opened in 1958 and was one of many students transferred over from Mt. Diablo High. “The school wasn’t even finished on the first day of class,” he said. “There was sand blowing down the hallways.”
Rubiales also remembers the eager faces of the first group of teachers. “They were a very young faculty. Many were new to teaching. A lot were not much older than I was.” Bob Hoyer, who became the first mayor of Clayton in 1964 after the city was incorporated, was a CVHS parent. His son’s school sweater is one of the items on display at the Clayton Historical Society Museum.
‘AN UNUSUAL EXPERIENCE’ Dan G. Della was the first principal. In the student handbook Della wrote: “An unusual experience, different from that of entering an established school, lies ahead for each one of you ... A tremendous responsibility has been placed on your shoulders and only by working cooperatively together can we
See Museum, page 23
Clayton’s newest officer always knew his future was in law enforcement TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
André Gensburger/Clayton Pioneer
JOHN RUBIALES, one of Clayton Valley’s original students, stands beside his school jacket seen in the school yearbook. The jacket and other CVHS historical items are on display at the Clayton Historical Museum
What’s Inside Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Church News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Clayton PD is now fully staffed at 12 uniformed officers with the addition of Peter Hanft, the department’s most recent hire. Hanft, 26, is fresh out of the Sacramento County Sheriff ’s Academy and will be undergoing a 16-18-week Field Officer Training Program. He is currently training under Officer Allen White.
See Hanft, page 4
Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Community Calendar . . . . . . . . .20 Council Candidates . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Deal With It . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Directory of Advertisers . . . . . . . .5 DVMS School Reporter (New) . .10
Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
PETER HANFT
IS CURRENTLY COMPLETING
Financial Sense . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Food for Thought . . . . . . . . . . . .24 From the Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Holiday Shopping Guide . . . . . . .12 Letters to the Editor . . . . . . . . . . .4
his Field Officer Training
Movie Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 On the Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Readers' Forum . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 School News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Redevelopment funds latest victim of state money grab TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
The long arm of the state reached into Clayton’s coffers once again, this time filching over $400k in Redevelopment Agency funds. In 2006, California voters, fed up with the constant raids on city and county funds, passed Prop. 1A, which set limits on the state’s “borrowing” practices and requires that anything taken from local agencies must be repaid with interest. The measure further limits the number of times the state could use this tactic in balancing the state budget. However, only the funds coming from the base property taxes are protected by Prop 1A. The incremental monies that cities channel into their Redevelopment Agency budgets are not. So, the state can make a “one-time seizure” of $406,515 from this year’s incremental tax revenue and they don’t have to pay it back. That is half of the
See Money, page 17
Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Tax Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Theatre Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Travel Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Upcoming Events . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Weather Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18