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IT’S YOUR PAPER www.claytonpioneer.com
October 10, 2008
925.672.0500
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
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
October 10, 2008
Around Town Tamara Simbirdi to ride for cancer research Clayton resident, Tamara Simbirdi, has joined the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team-InTraining (TNT) Program for the
fall season. She is joining participants from more than 69 different cities from across the country and together will raise over $8.5 million to support the mis-
Rhine family returns for Oktoberfest
It’s “thumbs up” for Tamara Simbirdi as she trains for a 100-mile ride for Leukemia and Lymphoma research, shown here with Conrad, Carolyn and Madison Simbirdi.
sion of finding a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life for their patients and families. Inspired by a close family friend, Walt Hagge, who lost his own 10-year battle against cancer in June of this year, Tamara decided that it was time to “step up” and make a contribution of her own to assist with this cause. After completing the 4-month TNT program, she will complete a 100-mile endurance bike ride on Nov. 15 in Solvang, CA. LLS has invested more than $360 million over the last 40 years into research that has significantly improved survival rates for thousands of people. To make a donation, or for more information, go to http://pages.teamintraining.org/sf/ solvFnst08/tsimbirdi. André Gensburger/Clayton Pioneer
60 years for Dorothy and Millard Ferris Dorothy and Millard Ferris celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Sept. 11. The two were married in 1948 in Alameda and have lived in the Concord/Clayton area for more than 30 years. On their anniversary the couple was welcomed to the Concord Seniors Club. The following weekend there was a family barbecue at son George Ferris’ home in San Leandro. The couple has two sons, one daughter, two grandsons, and three great grandsons. Dorothy and Millard are planning a cruise to South America in further celebration.
DOROTHY AND MILLARD FERRIS
! day 1 in ing d n Pe
Pleased that Clayton once again won the coin toss, Mayor Gregg Manning takes some good natured ribbing from Robert Rhine, great grandson of Charles Rhine, one of Clayton’s earliest settlers. Had Charles won the coin toss, Manning would today be the mayor of Rhinesville.
This time without the anticipation of another coin toss to determine the city’s future, some 50 members of the Rhine family arrived Sept. 27 to enjoy a reunion breakfast at La Veranda. Joined by Mayor Greg Manning and Vice Mayor Julie Pierce, family organizer Robert Rhine, great grandson of Charles Rhine, arrived with a custom T-shirt featuring a coin. Legend has it that the name of our city was decided by a coin toss between two early Clayton settlers, Charles Rhine and Joel Clayton. Last year at Oktoberfest, Robert Rhine and then Mayor Bill Walcutt reen-
ED
ST T LI
JUS
acted the coin toss. The Rhines lost again. “Clayton is in your face all the way into town,” Robert Rhine told Manning who, in a witty retort, announced that Rhine was “just being sensitive.” Manning and Pierce then offered the family a proclamation celebrating the famous family heritage, announcing that it was “out of recognition for having lost the coin toss twice.” “You’re not forgotten,” Pierce said. “We have a big day planned,” Robert Rhine announced to the family. Cousin Robert Steven Rhine added that “it is rare to get 50
relatives together in one room.” Mary Spryer, curator of the Clayton Historical Museum, was on hand – having assisted the Rhine family in obtaining artifacts and information about the family’s history. “A lot would not have been possible without the help of Mary ...,” Robert Steven Rhine said, unable to recall her surname. “Rhine,” Spryer called out, and the group enjoyed a familial laugh. Following the breakfast, the family was scheduled to attend the tapping of the keg as well as a tour of the museum. - André Gensburger
CE
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$539,000 Concord Springwood – Beautiful, remodeled 4BD/2BA home boasts 1,858 s.f. & a kitchen that is a chef ’s dream! Granite, deep Maple cabinetry & professional appliances are highlighted by raised ceilings & recessed lighting. Warm family & living rooms w/neutral carpet. Pride of ownership shows in meticulous backyard landscaping.
$598,000 Clayton Dana Hills – 4BD/2BA w/1,919 s.f. on a .24 acre corner lot just down the street from the swim club, park & playground. Large kitchen/dining combo room w/pergo floors & slider out to patio & play area. Formal living room adjacent to dining area. Master suite with h/h closets. Roomy back yard w/Mt. Diablo views. www.281MountaireCircle.com
Concord $575,000 Cozy Concord – 2,274 s.f. remodeled in & out! Custom touches & amazing craftsmanship highlight this 4BD/3BA home on a cul-de-sac in a great neighborhood. Gourmet kitchen w/coffered ceiling, recessed lights & breakfast bar. Great backyard w/covered patio, hot tub, tasteful landscaping plus RV Parking. www.1584LaverneWay.com
$599,980 Clayton Dana Hills – Single-story 4BD/2BA incl. master suite. Updated kitchen has stainless steel appliances & ample counter & cabinet space. Spacious family & living room w/fireplace. Private back deck with cover. Beautiful yard w/mature trees, plants & partial Diablo views! www.141MountaireParkway.com
Clayton $709,000 Silvercreek II – Great curb appeal & fantastic neighborhood! This 4BD/2.5BA is a gardener’s paradise w/pool, patio and planting areas on one level & spa, decking and landscaping on the level adjacent to the family room. Open kitchen/dining area w/view to back & dining room with sliding door to backyard. www.5605OhmanPlace.com
Clayton $1,125,000 Country living without the Drive – Custom singlestory 4BD/3BA w/ over 3,700 s.f. sits down a private lane at the foot of Mt. Diablo on a .5 acre lot. Chef kitchen w/granite & prep island/bar & a wonderful, open floor plan w/huge rooms. Massive wrap-around Trex deck & beautifully landscaped lot w/pool & spa. www.8114MarshCreekRoad.com
Clayton $1,398,000 Morgan Territory – Incredible 5BD/5BA custom estate w/4.75 acres & Mt. Diablo views that are unmatchable! 2 flat areas for pool/tennis/barn site. Fantastic gourmet kitchen, family, game & bonus rooms. Boasts 4 fireplaces & a master suite w/Jacuzzi tub appointed to maximize the scenery. www.415LeonCourt.com
Clayton
$1,199,000
Linda Miller (925) 765-4765
Diablo Downs – 1.45 Acre Horse property has a beautiful ranch home with approx. 2,487 s.f. & 3BD/2.5BA including a den. Wood floors, gourmet kitchen and a spa with an outdoor shower.
www.890CoachmanPlace.com
Lynne French welcomes her new Associates, Brian St. Pierre and Linda Miller Clayton Resident & Broker Owner
October 10, 2008
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page 3
Around Town Shannon Frank to marry Jason Shaw
SHANNON FRANK AND JASON SHAW
Clayton police officer Jason Shaw and fiancé Shannon Frank
will exchange wedding vows on Oct. 25. Shannon and Jason, both from Escondido, met in 1993 when they were in high school and became good friends. They stayed in touch over the years. In 2006, Jason found his way to Clayton and the Clayton police department. “In April of 2007 Shannon and I started dating,” Jason says, “and it was like we were never
apart.” In July 2008, Shannon and her children moved to Clayton and began wedding plans. Shannon’s engagement ring is custom designed from jewelry that has been in Jason’s family for years. Shannon’s 10-year-old son, Cole, will give her away and daughters Harley, 11, and Ashlynn, 8, will serve as bridesmaids
Chief ’s son graduates from Marine Security Guard School
Galvin clan welcomes Amanda There’s a new Galvin in town. Her name is Amanda Joan and she arrived on Aug. 6. Miss Amanda weighed in at 6 lbs. 7 oz and stretched to 17 inches. The young lady is happily at home with her parents Kelly and Louie Galvin. Proud grandparents are Dorothy Galvin and Mitch and Joan Brens.
Clayton voters question council candidates Clayton police chief, Dan Lawrence and his wife Sandy and son Todd traveled to Quantico, Virginia last month to see son Scott’s graduation from the US Marine Security Guard School on Sept. 26. Scott will soon be traveling to the US Embassy in Cameroon, Africa to provide security for that operation for one year. This photo is taken in front of the Marine Security Guard School building.
AMANDA JOAN GALVIN
Stephen Hill completes Eagle Scout project THE
EIGHT CANDIDATES
for City Council met with the voters for a Q and A session at the library on Sept. 29.
All eight candidates for the city council faced a packed house last week when the League of Women Voters and the Clayton branch of the AAUW sponsored a question and answer session in the Library Community Room. Audience members wrote their questions on cards and gave them to the moderator, Pat Snyder. Each candidate was given 45 seconds to answer the question. Without exception, the candidates see the revitalization of downtown as the paramount issue facing the city. “We need to increase revenue,” they chanted – it was almost a mantra. Candidates were quizzed on their position on the Town
Center Specific Plan and whether they would support or oppose Clayton Community Church’s desire to build a worship center within the Town Center. Joe Medrano and Jim Diaz declined to take a position on the church development before they see a proposal. The others all agreed that whatever was proposed it would have to meet the criteria of the TCSP as amended last year, which excludes a church from the list of approved uses. There was little else to distinguish the candidates from each other save the bocce park. The city has donated the land next to the corporation yard for bocce courts with the agreement that
the Bocce Federation would raise the funds from private sources to fund the construction. Howard Geller stepped out of the pack when he suggested that the the city use public money from the Redevelopment Agency to fund the construction. “It’s like any other park,” he said. “We build ball fields for Little League, this isn’t any different.” Over and over, the candidates expressed their affection for Clayton, support of the city staff and admiration for the current council. “All in all, it was the best of Clayton,” said former mayor and councilmember Pete Laurence. Tamara Steiner
Stephen Hill, 16, of Boy Scout Troop 484 (age 16, junior at Clayton Valley High School), completed his Eagle Scout Project last month. The CVHS junior conducted a door to door clothes drive in Clayton to benefit the Bay Area Crisis Nursery. Stephen spent 187 hours planning and implementing his project which included distributing flyers and picking up and washing all the clothes. The drive netted almost 1,000 articles of clothing for the nursery The mission of the Bay Area Crisis Nursery is to prevent abuse and neglect of children by providing support to families who are in stress or crisis. Their primary service is providing a
warm, loving, homelike environment for children by offering 24 hour residential care.
STEPHEN HILL
WITH
Troop 484 is sponsored by the Clayton Business and Community Association.
SANDY HATHAWAY of the Bay Area Crisis Nursery.
OFF
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NCUA–Your savings federally insured to at least $100,000 and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government. *Offer good through October 31, 2008. New first mortgage or refinance of an existing, non-TCU first mortgage. Not available with other discounts. Everyone who lives, works, worships or goes to school in Contra Costa County is eligible to join. Certain membership requirements may apply.
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
October 10, 2008
Upcoming Events Only Preview Fri., Oct. 17 from 4 to 7 p.m. Memberships can be purchased at the door.
CVHS HOMECOMING PARADE Oct. 15 at 4:30 p.m. The CVHS Leadership class hosts the annual Homecoming Parade down Main Street. Come tap your foot to the high school band, cheer for the cheerleaders and wave to the class royalty as they prepare for the Homecoming Weekend. This year is the 50th anniversary of the school and rumor has it, there will be an alumni float in the parade.
CURSI HOUSE OF SCREAMS OCT 24, 25, 31; 7-10 P.M. Come if you dare, the self guided tour snakes you through five rooms of horrific pleasure. Watch out for the scary surprises that jump and scream in the darkness, the eerie strobe lights and smoke filled rooms. All ages are welcome, however not recommended for small children. For the faint of heart a less haunting experience can be arranged. Admission is free. Cursi House of Screams, 5625 Lewis Way, Concord, www.cursihouseofscreams.com
CLAYTON LIBRARY USED BOOK SALE OCT. 18-19 Book lovers pay heed. This semi-annual used book sale sponsored by the Clayton Community Library Foundation is set for Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Oct. 19 from 12 noon to 4 p.m. Most books sell for $1. There is also a $3 bag special from 2- 4 p.m. on Sunday. Most books on Sunday sell for $.50. If you want to get a jump on the selection, there is a Member’s
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Schedule of October events
If you cannot attend, we are happy to get books signed for you.
Clayton Books
10/10, Fri. 3:30 pm. . . . .David
Carter, teaches the art of pop-ups 10/13, Mon. 7 pm. . . . . .Gail Tsukiyama, author of, “Street of a 1000 Blossoms,” Tea at Oakhurst CC 10/15, Wed. 7 pm. . . . .Getting
into College - and Paying for it, with the Princeton Review
10/16, Thur. 7 pm. . . . .Claire 10/19, Sun. 3 pm.
Booth, local author of “False Prophet” . . . . .Sara Miles, author of “Take This Bread.” This program will be held at Clayton Valley Presbyterian Church, 1578 Kirker Pass Road, Concord.
10/17, 7 p.m. . . . . . . . . . .Yuyi Morales and Marisa Montes share their picturebooks, “Los Gatos Black on Halloween” and “Just in Case: A trickster Tale.” 10/22, 7 p.m. . . . . . . . . . .Ying Chang Compestine, author of “Revolution is not a dinner party.” To be held at the Dean Lesher in Walnut Creek. 10/28, 4 p.m. . . . . . . . . . .Nancy Werlin, author of the new young adult novel, “Impossible,” as well as “Black Mirror,” “Double Helix,” “The Rules of Survival,” and more.
Open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily In the Clayton Station joelharris@aol.com
The library is located at 6125 Clayton Road. For more information call 673-0659. painting, Halloween bag decorating, games and raffle prizes as well as the first annual pumpkin carving contest. Families are encouraged to be creative in making their own wild and wacky costumes. For more information about “Boo Night at the YMCA”, contact Noah Ochoa at 925.889.1600 or visit mdrymca.org. A GHOSTLY WALK THROUGH CLAYTON OCT. 31, 8 P.M.
Led by Clayton historian Richard Taylor, the 26th annual Ghost Walk is set for Halloween night at 8 p.m. The tour begins and ends at Endeavor Hall and includes 10 stops with guest appearances by celebrity ghosts. Participants are asked to bring flashlights and are given a certificate that states “I survived the Ghost tour.”
Readers Forum
by the professionals at
Meet
Halloween Happenings
YMCA BOO NIGHT OCT. 29, 6-8 P.M. The Concord/Clayton YMCA Hosts Annual BOO NIGHT for little goblins and their families at the Community Gym next to Diablo View Middle School. The free event includes a bounce house, arts and crafts, face
We are the original painters of all the homes in Windmill Canyon. Proudly serving the greater Bay Area for more than 82 years!
Individual membership is $10 and family membership is $15. Contributing Member is $30.
www.claytonbookshop.com
5433 D Clayton Rd., Clayton (925) 673-3325
N OO S ING State of the Art M O C
The Pioneer makes the Readers Forum space available to readers with a point of view on a topic of community interest. The views expressed in the Readers Forum are those of the writer and not necessarily held by the Pioneer publishers.
An Open Letter to All Council Candidates I read with great interest the perspective council candidate statements and found each to possess wonderful qualifications and an apparent passion to serve. In this letter I wish to share a request for each to share their approach to one of the fundamental problems that plagues not just only Clayton community but small communities across America. Governing bureaucracy has become increasingly unresponsive, inefficient, unproductive and too costly. Citizens are thought of not as customers or clients but as sources of revenue to be tapped solely for the public coffers. There is an inherent reluctance rather than a willingness to this approach to governing and providing municipal services and ostensibly, the only problems that get attention and services provided are prioritized not by how effective, efficient and accountably they can be delivered; but on the basis of fees, accounting charges or which new assessments can be collected. Not wishing to be one who merely complains without contemplating solutions, I offer these broad simple concepts that should be part of future candidates’ solutions and public debate: Reverse the decision to have all city employees/officials part of CALPERS. These benefits should be limited only to essential service personal (police services). This well intentioned decision is simply just too costly and one that most small communities just
can’t afford, especially with looming potential insolvency issues. In lieu of using city personal to provide services consider the use of fix-priced contracts with outside firms competitively bid to provide either part or most of these services. Consideration should be given to effectiveness, efficiency, accountability, overhead reduction and minimizing future long term legacy expense risks. Eliminate the use of outside Consultants unless they are funded solely by a perspective applicant or non-city entity. City employees should be capable of gathering and interpreting information or the Public at large should be tapped by the Council to determine policy. Stop periodic accounting “transfers and adjustments” from special specific assessment revenues. Spend these funds solely on what was promised and intended (labor and materials) and should there be funds not spent, roll them over into a reserve account that is publicly noticed and debated before spent or returned to the citizens. Much effort is spent over ways to pay for increasing the size and expenses associated with our current city governing system and municipal services. More emphasis should be on uncovering solutions to make our current system and services more effective, productive and less costly.
Glenn Miller
Equestrian Facility, near Clayton
Hanft, from page 1
Nearly New Custom Facility With "Big Red" Barn, with Full Bath, Office, Laundry Facility, and stalls with paddocks. Also Offers Mare Motel, Fully covered Riding Arena, Outdoor arena, Round Pen, Hunter/Jumper Course, and Even More. This Beautiful Estate Boasts a nearly New Custom Home with Endless Designer Finishes Throughout. All this on Nearly 30 Acres. Call for More Info. President’s Award 2007
Kimberly Morucci (925) 437-1650 kmorucci@rockcliff.com www.kimmorucci.com
Clayton resident & ranch property owner.
“He’s my lump of clay,” said White, “mine to mold.” “It takes anywhere from three to five years for a new officer to get in the car and feel like he has a handle on this job,” White explained. Hanft’s training will also include four weeks with Officer Rich Enea. The young officer was raised in Walnut Creek and his parents still live there. After high school, he attended Sacramento State, majoring in criminal justice and graduating in 2007. He entered the Sheriff ’s Academy as a private student paying his own way. After graduation, he worked for
a short time at Federal Express in Sacramento to pay off his student loans. Anxious to “return home” he began looking for a job in the Bay Area. Hanft always planned to be a police officer. “My parents raised me to help others,” he said. “And I’ve always had some fascination with law enforcement.” His two sisters are also in the helping professions. One is a physician and the other a physical therapist. Currently commuting from Sacramento, Hanft and his fiancé, a political fundraiser, are house hunting in the area. They plan to be married next June.
Letters to the Editor Clayton Millionaires So, Claritas Solutions hunts down these Clayton millionaires - and announces it in the media. Of course too much of our personal information is available all over the place, but all the way down to our checking accounts? This is not just beyond offensive, it’s scary: we now have a financial ‘who’s who’ for our small town, and the ‘bad guys’ can enjoy a little visit to the homes of our millionaires after getting the addresses from Claritas. Joan Culver
Thoughts on mortgage meltdown The origins of this mortgage melt-down are important so that it doesn’t happen again. In 1999 Bill Clinton signed a bill liberalizing mortgage requirements and appointed personal crony Franklin Raines to head Fannie Mae. By 2003 it became clear to all that the standards of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac had become way too loose and needed more oversight. The New York Times article of 9/11/03 even reported upon the Bush Administration’s proposal for better regulation, and upon Barney Frank and other Democrat’s opposition to it, and it not passing. Again in May of 2005 John McCain co-sponsored the Housing Regulatory Reform Act of 2005 and said in Congress on May 26, 2005 that if not passed “American taxpayers would be exposed to the enormous risk that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose to the housing market, the overall financial system, and the economy as a whole.” Again the proposal was shot down by the Democrats so didn’t pass. Coincidentally, the top 20 recipients of Fannie Mae donations include Chris Dodd, Barack Obama, John Kerry, Jack Reid, Hillary Clinton, and Nancy Pelosi. All this is easily confirmed by googling the subject. So don’t blame Bush or McCain. Pete Laurence
Grove Concerts We want to thank the City of Clayton and the Clayton Business and Community Association for sponsoring the wonderful concert series in the “Grove”. It was a delight to see all the families picnicking together, the kids playing and especially the kids dancing. A special thanks to Howard Geller for putting it all together. Sitting at the park every Saturday, watching the Clayton community come together was small town America at its best. We only hope they offer the event next year. Gary and Linda Mahloch
Submit your letter to the editor on this or any other subject from our Website at www.claytonpioneer.com or email to tamara@claytonpioneer.com Letters should be no longer than 250 words and must be signed.
October 10, 2008
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Classified FOR RENT P.O. Box 1246 6200 Center Street, Suite H, Clayton, CA 94517 TAMARA AND R OBERT S TEINER , Publishers TAMARA S TEINER , Editor A NDRÉ G ENSBURGER , Reporter and Feature Writer J EANNA R OSS , Reporter and Feature Writer P ETE C RUZ , Graphic Design B EV B RITTON , Copy Editor R ANDY R OWLAND , Sports Writer B ETH N EUDELL , Sales and Administrative Support L INDA M ANZECK , Administrative Assistant We remember Jill Bedecarré - Her spirit is our muse
Apartment for Rent In-Law Unit – Morgan Territory Road. 900 square feet, above garage. Rent includes appliances and utilities. Next door to horse boarding. Ideal for 1-2 people. Partially furnished. Call Bob Griffiths. $850/month. 672-2390. Office Space for Sub-lease Approximately 250 sq/ft. professional office space. Near bowling alley and athletic club. Available immediately. Call 685-4523.
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PIONEER INFO CONTACT US Tel: (925) 672-0500 Fax: (925) 672-6580 Tamara Steiner tamara@claytonpioneer.com André Gensburger Andre@claytonpioneer.com Beth Neudell beth@claytonpioneer.com Send ads to ads@claytonpioneer.com Send Sports News to sports@claytonpioneer.com Send Club News to clubnews@claytonpioneer.com Send Church News to churchnews@claytonpioneer.com
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We will not accept any ad that discriminates on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, nationality, family status or disability. The Clayton Pioneer reserves the right to reject any advertising we believe is unsuitable.
LET US KNOW Weddings, engagements, anniversaries, births and deaths all weave together as part of the fabric of our community. Please let us know of these important events. We ask only that the announcement be for a Clayton resident. You will find the appropriate form for your announcement on our Website. Attach your photo to the form. Make sure the image size you are about to send is at least 3 MB but not bigger than 6MB. The only format we accept is JPG. You can also mail or bring your print to the office and we can scan it for you. Also on our Web site are forms for submitting Community Calendar items and press releases for your organization.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Clayton Pioneer welcomes letters from our readers. As a general rule, letters should be 300 words or less and submitted at least one week prior to publication date. Letters concerning current issues will have priority. We may edit letters for length and clarity. All letters will be published at the editor’s discretion. Please include your name, address and daytime telephone number. We will not print letters from “anonymous.” E-mail your letter in a Word document to tamara@claytonpioneer.com. Letters MUST be submitted via E-mail.
Pet Sitting Want to leave the pets behind, safe and secure in their own home, while you travel? Call Linda at Peace of Mind Pet Services 672-9781. Daily visits and many services included. Licensed insured and bonded. References upon request. Childcare Benu's Daycare (License # 073404585) in Concord, a NAFCC accredited preschool has openings for 2+ years. Meals provided. Hours: 6:30am - 6:00pm Monday thru Friday. (925)825-7916 Childcare/Preschool Enroll now for fall in the Clayton Community School preschool. Monday - Friday 7 a. m. – 6 p.m. Located on Mt Diablo Elementary Campus. Call (925) 672-0388, Nancy Haley, Director. Tutor/Educational Coach Experienced classroom teacher. Tutoring for grades 2-5 all subjects. Study skills/ Homework help. Professional, mature, and kind. Will come to your home or the local library. Please call Janet, 925-6724360.
HELP WANTED Real Estate Agents Be Successful! Lynne French is expanding and interviewing for a few agents. Call her today (925) 6728787.
Tai-Chi Teacher Seeking teacher to practice Tai-Chi or Qigong in Downtown Park – one morning a week to start. If you are interested in sharing this experience and can lead the practice, please call Stephanie 925-932-7329 or email stephanie@helenandstephanie.com.
LOST AND FOUND Golf Clubs Found golf clubs. Set of clubs in Nike dark color golf bag. Found outside on Amaranth Ave. on Clayton border of Concord. Must describe clubs to me at vbogut@astound.net. Found Cat Young tabby with grey, black and white coloring. Chest and belly are white along with some white on her face. All four of her paws are white as well. She has a small black speck on her left nostril. Her eyes are light green-yellow and her tail is raccoonstriped. Please email Sue Fania suefaina@hotmail.com Found Keys Set of keys found on trail near Samuel Court. Please call (925) 673-3853
VOLUNTEERS WANTED Meals on Wheels Drivers 1 – 1 1/2 per week. Drivers and relief drivers needed for delivery of Meals on Wheels in East County. People are on the waiting list due to lack of drivers. A small amount of your time can make a big difference in someone’s life. If you can help please call Jim at 673-0300 or e-mail hairbyjim@sbcglobal.net. Hospice Thrift Shoppe Volunteer at one of the Hospice Thrift Shoppes located in Alamo, Danville, Walnut Creek, Concord and Antioch. You will have the opportunity to help customers, stock shelves and prepare merchandise for sale. Thrift shops are an inexpensive way to find old treasures or vintage clothing, but for the volunteers in our thrift shops, it's a way to make a difference in a meaningful way." Anna’s Attic Volunteers Volunteers needed at the Hospice of the East Bay thrift store. The address of the store is 5350 Clayton Road. Call store manager, Debbie, at 6749072 or Lamont Campbell at (925) 766-5066.
All types of mechanical repairs and computer diagnostics including 30K, 60K, 90K factory maintenance on all European, Imported and domestic vehicles. Official uttle
Free sh or f service rs
Smog Ch ec and Rep k air Station
epai major r
Our professionals are here to serve you: Amir, Jameson, Gary, Alex, Peter
Corner of Clayton Road and Kirker Pass Road
FLUSHES $10 off coupon valid for most cars exp. 10/23/08
BRAKE INSPECTIONS
HVAC SERVICE
$10 off
coupon valid for most cars
coupon valid for most cars
exp. 10/23/08
SMOG CHECK
$10 off
$10 off
exp. 10/23/08
925 672-3900
$10 off
SAFETY INSPECTION coupon valid for most cars
(plus certificate) coupon valid for most cars
exp. 10/23/08
exp. 10/23/08
OIL CHANGE Includes free 30 point inspection
$29.95 (regularly $34.95) coupon valid for most cars
exp. 10/23/08
Hospice of the East Bay Anna's Program, (formerly Hospice and Palliative Care of Contra Costa), is seeking dedicated, caring volunteers to provide home companionship and practical support for women with recurrent breast cancer. Women served reside in Central or East Contra Costa. To apply for free training, call Hospice of the East Bay at (925) 887-5678 and ask for the Volunteer Department, or email volunteers@hospiceeastbay.org. Anna's Program is generously supported by the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Anna's Attic Thrift Shop, and other community donations. Clayton Historical Society Museum The Clayton Historical Society Museum needs a greeter for two hours per month from 2-4 p.m. Wednesdays or Sundays. No experience or extensive knowledge of Clayton history is necessary. All you need is a cheerful smile and a "hello" as our guests come through the door. You'll meet interesting people and learn a lot about our historic town. Call the museum at 672-0240 and leave your name. Clayton Community Library We are seeking to fill the following volunteer positions: (All positions require a minimum age of 13 years and a 6 month commitment.) Lead Tutor - to help facilitate the request for tutors in our volunteer tutoring program. You will match the students needs with a corresponding tutor. Required good communication skills and a desire to help students in the community. Telephone and email work can mainly be done from home. Graphic Displays and Events Photographer - can be done by one or two people.Take photos at our many library events and put the photos on display in the library before it is eventually placed in our library scrapbook. Choice photos of library events can be used for submitting to newspapers. Contact: Arlene @ 6739777 or email: akikkawa@ccclib.org
Page 5
Directory of Advertisers Auto Clayton Valley Shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-3900 Diablo Automotive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .288-0981 Mike's Auto Body . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-1739 Construction and Trades Belfast Plumbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .457-5423 Burkin Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1519 FS Construction/AFU Concrete . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4546 Hatley Construction Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .680-8554 Insite Design and Build . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .980-0465 Majestic Pools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .676-1545 Mario Navea General Contractor . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-5260 Michael Dwyer & Sons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-3980 Paul’s Handyman Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .676-6607 Pavers by Howard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .766-2574 S&K Nellis Painting, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .687-2233 Smith & Bernal Roofing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0138 Straight Line Imports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .335-9801 Tipperary Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-2679 Tip Top Kitchen and Bath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .497-5699 Dining and Entertainment AJ’s Sports Pub & Grill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .459-0574 CCMT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .943-7469 Clayton Club Saloon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-0440 La Veranda .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0011 Financial and Insurance Services Benton, Mureleen - Ameriprise Financial . . . . . .685-4523 Carol Keane and Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .937-5200 CD Federal Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825-0900 Doug Van Wyck - State Farm Insurance . . . . . . .672-2300 Richard Littorno - Attorney at Law . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6463 Travis Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .800-877-8328 We the People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .246-0370 Funerals Neptune Society of Northern California . . . . . . . .944-5100 Ouimet Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-4242 Home and Garden A and J Fencing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .370-0747 Abbey Carpet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .686-9901 Appliance Repairs by Bruce, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2700 Clear Splash Pool Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-6245 Design Dynamics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4968 Floors to Go Danville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .820-8700 Kitchen Make-Overs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-7900 Lamorinda Floors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .284-4440 Navlet’s Garden Centers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .681-0550 Nichols Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9955 Pans on Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .600-7267 Son Bright Window Cleaning Service . . . . . . . . .674-9455 The Maids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-6243 Today Hauling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .497-4907 Utopic Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0055 Mailing and Shipping The UPS Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-6245 Medical Services Children's Dentistry of Walnut Creek . . . . . . . . . .938-2392 Dr. Jenny Chong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .827-5595 Personal Products and Services Beautique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0405 Rosebud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-888-476-7328 The Healing Hut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .685-6710 Yoga Sol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .288-9642 Pet Services Aussie Pet Mobile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .800-738-6624 Cat Hospital of Clayton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2287 Clayton Valley Pet Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-4600 Monte Vista Veterinary Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1100 Real Estate and Mortgage Services Flannery, Patty - Diablo Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0541 French, Lynne - Windermere Real Estate . . . . . .672-8787 Laurence, Pete - RE/MAX Realty . . . . . . . . . . . .937-0150 Lopez, Stephanie - Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . .932-7329 Morucci, Kim - Intero Real Estate Services . . . . .280-8563 Rahimzadeh, Helen - Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . .932-7375 Stay at Home and Love it . . . . . . . . .877-336-8369 x 4712 Village Oaks Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .408-371-8770 x 19 Vujnovich, George - Better Homes Realty . . . . .672-4433 Recreation Clayton Valley Bowl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-4631 Leap of Faith Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .938-9550 Mavericks Sports Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .602-5600 Traveling Trainers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .890-6931 Senior Services Aegis of Concord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .692-5838 Diamond Terrace Senior Retirement Living . . . . .524-5100 Services, Other Allied Waste Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .685-4711 Concord Disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .943-0180 Roberta Claire Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .625-1123 Sho Sho’s Daycare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .207-1479 Shopping Cegielski Jewelers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-2855 Clayton Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-3325 Computers USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9989 Donna's Quilting Loft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0401 Pacific coast Farmers Market . . . . . . . . . . .800-949-FARM Seasonal Reflections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4425 Sonset Flowers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .685-8200 The Royal Rooster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2025 Travel Cruise Adventures Unlimited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .935-7447 Travel to Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9840
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
October 10, 2008
Council candidates answer their own questions The Pioneer invited each of the candidates to submit three questions they would like to ask their opponents. Below is a compilation of their questions.
JIM DIAZ
What do you think is the number one issue facing Clayton and how would you address it?
HOWARD GELLER
KEITH HAYDON
ALLEN LAMPO
JOE MEDRANO
JULIE PIERCE
DAN RICHARDSON
HARUN SIMBIRDI
DIAZ GELLER
Provide tax incentives to potential businesses to encourage business development in the downtown area.
HAYDON LAMPO MEDRANO
Maintaining a balanced budget is Clayton’s major issue and requires a strong focus on increasing city revenue and reducing expense.
PIERCE
Maintaining a balanced budget while providing expected services for the community is the No. 1 issue facing Clayton. Like many household budgets, Clayton’s General Fund budget is the same as in 2001, and services cost at least 18 percent more today.
Our No. 1 issue is determining the right mix of uses that will result in a vibrant downtown that generates additional sales tax revenues. We need aggressive programs to attract that mix, which would include incentives for downtown property owners to develop their property. The No. 1 issue facing Clayton is the current economy. We will have to make uncomfortable decisions on our priorities.This will not be easy. Maintaining a balanced budget year after year when the state fiscal crisis continues to impact us. We cut costs and increase revenue. We need to encourage business downtown. The types of businesses that will succeed downtown are those that are well thought out, have a strong business plan, meet the needs of Clayton residents, have enough start up capital and provide friendly, efficient and competent service.
RICHARDSON Clayton’s main priority is developing a strong economic base that results in increased revenue. To accomplish this, we must develop successful, and appropriate, businesses that are supported by residents and visitors.
What are the city’s priorities for the next four years?
SIMBIRDI
The city budget and the state’s willingness to take money. Clayton needs to increase tax revenue by developing downtown retail business climate responsibly. A successful, visionary leader in private sector business will understand and be able to deliver good sustainable growth.
DIAZ
Business development in the downtown area. Adhering to the Town Center Specific Plan. Maintaining a balanced budget without increasing taxes. Landscape maintenance.
GELLER HAYDON
Improving our retail base, maintaining a balanced budget, landscape improvements and maintenance, and maximizing community involvement in civic issues.
LAMPO
The No. 1 priority is to keep our small town feel - to not allow over-expansion of our wonderful community. Yes, we need to attract small businesses downtown but not allow others to dominate our Main Street. We need to build our tax base.
MEDRANO
Continue developing the downtown. Reduce expenses. Increase revenue. As the state keeps taking away our resources, we need to find ways to replace what is lost as well as increase what we currently have in order to thrive in the future. We need to mentor and encourage our children to be positively involved in the community.
PIERCE
As a community, we set a vision for our downtown. Continued deliberate planning will help us create a vibrant town center with retail and commercial services. The Grove Park has provided the catalyst, now we must work together to create the vision we all worked on for so long.
Based on my Planning Commission experience and discussions with the city manager, Clayton’s priorities will be reasonable downtown expansion, updating the Housing Element and General Plan, and meeting our redevelopment goals.
RICHARDSON 1). Preserve Clayton’s character while supporting responsible growth and economic development. 2). Maintain a balanced budget and essential city services that
meet the growing needs of Clayton’s residents. 3). Update the City’s General Plan and insure public input during the process to define Clayton’s vision for the future. 4). Represent Clayton in regional forums and work to reduce regional impacts on Clayton.
What improvements or programs can you recommend that would better insulate the city from the vagaries of the state budget?
What can the city do to increase revenue?
SIMBIRDI
Town Center, traffic, keeping crime low, budget shortfalls, community events and parks.
DIAZ
Business development in the downtown area to provide an ongoing revenue stream.
GELLER HAYDON LAMPO
Increasing revenues that are least sensitive to being raided by the state and maintaining a healthy reserve account.
MEDRANO
We need to continue to build the city’s reserve fund in anticipation of the state taking more money from us. We need to continue with long-range planning and not spend money we don’t have.
PIERCE
We must increase city revenues by adding revenue-generating retail and commercial businesses to our downtown.
We must increase city revenue, primarily through development of our downtown, and retain reserves for emergencies. This is not a time to talk about improvements. Let’s get through these financial times and do the little things that protect our kids, like a bike rack at the base of the elementary school. We need to create a slush fund for hard times like this.
RICHARDSON A strong economic base in Clayton’s downtown and maintaining property values provides the greatest insulation. SIMBIRDI
The budget is managed well thanks to city manager Gary Napper. You can’t control the state’s actions but we can insulate the city through increased business tax revenue.
DIAZ
Encourage business development in the downtown area.
GELLER
Market the city to make our downtown an attractive destination for business by making it easier to locate and prosper here.
HAYDON
We need to expand our downtown to generate more tax revenues, consider increasing fees and seek authorization to increase fines for nuisances and code violations.
LAMPO MEDRANO
Obvious. Raise taxes and/or attract new small businesses.
PIERCE
Our options are very limited, but retail sales tax is our best opportunity.
Utilize current resources more efficiently to generate additional revenue through increased sales in town.
RICHARDSON In addition to promoting responsible economic development, we can explore opportunities to build public/private partnerships to leverage city resources. Attract anchor businesses downtown and create more events like Oktoberfest and Art & Wine. Then with event promotion, you naturally will attract more people to SIMBIRDI our town and they will spend money.
Where would you cut expenses if necessary to balance the city’s budget?
DIAZ
Pursue outsourcing city services. Landscape maintenance, for example.
GELLER
Anywhere that allows us to maintain adequate city services that does not compromise public safety.
HAYDON
Reducing budget expenses would primarily involve reducing city services, programs or staff. Volunteers may offset staff reductions but would result in reduced services.
LAMPO
Until I get more involved with the city finances, this is a very hard question. Possibly turn off the sidewalk lights at different intervals.
MEDRANO
Instead of using city-employed personnel to provide services, consider outsourcing with outside firms to reduce costs. Reduce the use and expense of outside consultants.
PIERCE
State take-aways have cut our budget to the bone. Further cuts will impact expected community services.
RICHARDSON Clayton’s “bare bones” budget can’t withstand further cutting without serious impacts on current service levels. If unavoidable, I would provide options and their consequences to Clayton’s residents and solicit feedback prior to making a decision.
Would you support rais ing taxes to improve or add city serv ices or to bal ance the budget?
SIMBIRDI
Tough question and I would consult the city manager to consider options.
DIAZ GELLER
No. I would propose tax incentives to encourage business development in the downtown area.
HAYDON LAMPO MEDRANO PIERCE RICHARDSON SIMBIRDI
I would only request a tax increase as a last resort to protect essential services and would put any proposed increase up for a vote of Clayton residents.
As a last resort. Raise taxes. Yes, it is necessary. No. No. We must live within our means. With careful stewardship and a steady hand on the wheel of our budget, we can continue to provide current services. I support soliciting resident feedback prior to decisions of this magnitude. No – Business-101. When people spend more money in our community and get something in return, the city, businesses and residents benefit more than raising taxes. The trick is to get them to come here and spend the money. See answer No. 4.
October 10, 2008
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com
Page 7
Candidates’ questions and answers, from page 6 Do you sup port the current Town Center Specific Plan as amended last year? If not, what changes would you make?
How would you propose to attract new business to Clayton while preserving the “small town” feel and how would you get the community to support them?
DIAZ
Yes.
GELLER
Yes, because it makes sense and is flexible. If a proposal came forth that made sense warranting a change, I would listen and consider whether any proposed change is in the best interests of the community.
HAYDON
Yes. As chairman of the Planning Commission, I helped design the revisions to encourage business development in our downtown area.
LAMPO MEDRANO PIERCE RICHARDSON
Yes, I support the current Town Center Specific Plan.
SIMBIRDI
Yes, I support it.
DIAZ
Offering tax incentives to prospective downtown businesses such as new restaurants and boutique gift or novelty shops that are “Clayton-compatible” and would produce new revenue.
GELLER
I would make it revenue attractive and easier to get through the planning process to get the right business, commercial and residential mix. I will support designs that are consistent with our “small town feel.” I will give projects public airings more than just at Planning Commission or City Council meetings.
HAYDON
I would work with local businesses and developers to attract businesses that complement and expand our current business mix, establishing Clayton as a destination to stimulate local demand, as well as draw business from the surrounding communities.
LAMPO
I would find people like myself who want to open an ice cream parlor (Clayton Creamery) and support them – be it tax breaks in the first year, help on loans or instruction on licensing.
MEDRANO
Be more business friendly and offer incentives to businesses through redevelopment funds. We can work with businesses to offer incentives to residents to support the downtown businesses.
PIERCE
The City Council hired a proven retail commercial expert to analyze the realistic potential for new business in our downtown. That report is under review. If we proceed to the next phase, this firm will work with local property owners and use the firm’s professional contacts to help us recruit appropriate businesses for our small downtown. We need to promote our downtown and build on the energy the Grove Park has created.
RICHARDSON
I would propose we develop a Precise Plan for the downtown which would provide a greater level of detail than the Specific Plan and greater assurances that our “small town” will be preserved. Public participation is essential during that process. Attracting businesses that are in character with Clayton will likely require that building improvements be completed by someone other than those businesses we wish to attract. I propose working with property owners and potential developers to explore opportunities to construct that “small town” feel.
SIMBIRDI
The “small town” feel will be preserved because the city code specifies design/architecture of the buildings. No matter what type of business you attract, as long as they modify operations to fit within the code, you can preserve the “small town” feel. By serving the needs of Clayton residents first, the community will support those businesses.
DIAZ
Clayton Police Department (1979-’89), Clayton Planning Commission (1997-’99), Committee to Select Clayton Police Chief (1999), Clayton Business & Community Association (CBCA) since 1998, co-chair of Clayton Classic Golf Tournament, music coordinator of Art & Wine Festival, co-producer of Concerts in the Park, security coordinator at Oktoberfest.
GELLER
My 33 years of community involvement include publishing the city’s first newspaper, starting Kiddieland for the Fourth of July and founding the Clayton Round-Up. Also, I am a 24-year CBCA member and four-term president, founder and chair of the Art and Wine Festival. I developed Westwood Park with the city, served on several homeowners associations, was a committee chair for the Oktoberfest and founded the Concerts in the Grove series.
HAYDON
I have served on the Planning Commission for more than 12 years, served as chairman of the Clayton Trails Committee and the first landscape initiative, have been president of my homeowner’s association for more than 20 years and am an active Clayton Business and Community Association member.
What commu- LAMPO nity service experience do MEDRANO you have?
What is your position on term limits for local elected officials?
Yes, but as with any plan it can always be amended to address the needs of the community. Yes. We must add revenue-generating retail and commercial businesses to our small downtown while maintaining its charm and historic character. Yes.
I have done many community services. I am an assistant Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 444 of St. Bonaventure, a seven-year board member of the Dana Ridge Homeowners Association, and an announcer and art volunteer for Dana Hills Swim Team. Last year, I was a lunch guard at Diablo View Middle School. Another service I provided was writing a financial column for the Clayton Pioneer. I have run the Clayton Art & Wine Festival for the last four years. I have volunteered and supported the Oktoberfest each year. I helped bring the Soap Box Derby to Clayton for the last five years.
PIERCE
City Council, 1992-present; Planning Commission, 1987-’92; co-chair, Raise-a-Gym Committee, 1996-2003; Clayton Business & Community Association, 1992present; Contra Costa Transportation Authority 1992-present; Association of Bay Area Governments, Regional Planning Committee, 2002-present.
RICHARDSON
More than 30 years of public service, most recently as the director of public services for the city of Walnut Creek.
SIMBIRDI
I’m on the Citizens Corp Council Board (a Community Emergency Response Team program), I am CERT trained, I helped test the CERT communication system and I manage the claytoncert.com Website. Plus three years pushing kids up the ramps at the Clayton Derby and volunteering at the 2008 Fourth of July Parade. In addition, I write half of the Safety Zone articles for the Pioneer.
DIAZ
I support term limits, i.e., two, four-year terms. New elected officials equal new ideas.
GELLER HAYDON
Term limits are healthy for representative government.
LAMPO
There should definitely be term limits for elected officials-probably three terms. We want energetic, positive people in office. After a time, I can see apathy from doing the same old job.
MEDRANO
Term limits are fine so long as you have a large enough pool of talent.
PIERCE
I oppose them. We need experienced policy-makers on the council to provide continuity of community leadership.
RICHARDSON SIMBIRDI
I support term limits on ineffective leaders.
Due to the voluntary nature of our City Council and the need to retain experienced members who are meeting the needs of the residents, I feel that term limits should not apply to locally elected officials. Clayton voters should have the power to retain or replace local officials based on their performance, not just their time in office.
We should have them.
Only three more Farmers Markets this year
Page 8
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
October 10, 2008
Don’t be tricked – remember these Halloween safety tips Halloween is an exciting time for kids and parents alike. This is a great time to dress up and be someone (or something) unusual. You may want to become a witch, pirate, goblin, a superhero or just about anything that would scare. Because of this dynamic, trick-or-treating can become dangerous. The Clayton Police Department, the National Safety Council and the American Academy of Pediatrics offer some basic safety tips to parents, trick-ortreaters and homeowners. Parents should make sure that children eat dinner before setting out. Ideally, young children of any age should be accompanied by an adult. Instruct your children to travel only in familiar areas and along an established route. If your children go on their own, make sure they have a
watch that can be read in the dark and have them carry a cell phone. Although tampering is rare, tell your children to bring the candy home to be inspected before consuming anything. Look at the wrapping carefully and toss out anything that looks suspect. Establish a return time. Trick-or-treaters should walk on sidewalks, not on the streets. Remind them to look both ways to check for cars and trucks before crossing streets. Carry a flashlight to light your way. Wear light colored or reflective costumes so you are more visible. Use or buy only fire-retardant materials for costumes. Costumes shouldn’t be so long as to create a tripping haz-
ard. Visit homes that are familiar and well-lit. Be cautious of animals and strangers. Homeowners should make sure that yards are clear of hazards, such as children’s toys, hoses, Halloween decorations or flower pots that might cause young ones to trip. Change burned out light bulbs. Pets get frightened on Halloween. Protect them from cars or inadvertently biting trick-or-treaters by bringing them inside your home. If you use outdoor candles, make sure they are placed away from where trick-or-treaters will travel. Healthy food alternatives for trick-or-treaters include packages of low-fat crackers with cheese or peanut butter filling, packaged fruit rolls, mini
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attend are the most informed and, in many cases, have picked their favorites but want to see who has found favor with other voters. Clayton has almost 8,000 registered voters and since the candidate nights never draw more than a fraction of that number, I wonder how the voters make their choice. Maybe they read the literature the candidates leave at their doorsteps or know the candidates personally. I hope they read the coverage of the candidates in the Pioneer. As I write this, the city has just finished Oktoberfest. It was well-attended and should make a lot of money for the Clayton Business and Community Association
(CBCA), which sponsored the event. As I go around town, I have received a great many more complaints about parking at Oktoberfest this year than any in the past. People tell me they can’t get to the Post Office because there is no place to park. The postal workers tell me a number of patrons expressed the same problem. I also have heard from library patrons and trail walkers who say they find the library parking full. People attending the Oktoberfest have also told me they can’t find a place to park. I have mixed feelings when I receive this information. On one hand, it is great that the city has a parking problem. It means people are going down-
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boxes of raisins and singleserve packets of low-fat microwave popcorn. Halloween should be filled with surprise and be an enjoyable experience for everyone in the Clayton community. If you have questions or wish to report any suspicious activity associated with Halloween, call the Clayton Police Department at 673-7350.
Dan Lawrence is Clayton’s Police Chief. Please send your questions, comments or topics you’d like to see covered to DanL@cpd.ci. concord.ca.us
town. It reflects the businesses which have sprung up in places where people used to park. The downtown Grove Park is located in a place which had been used as a parking and carnival venue in past years. On the other hand, Oktoberfest and the May Art and Wine take four of the 365 days in the year. People should remember we have these events and plan accordingly. People also could walk. Speaking of walking, I have noticed a lot of trash on the walking trails. We did not have Clayton Cleans Up last spring due to a lack of volunteers and it shows. We still have concerned residents, though. I received an e-mail from Chrissy Townsend. After her 4-year-old daughter Brook noted there was a lot of litter on the ground, she said: “Mommy, maybe we can help clean up our community.” Brook and her mom then did that filling their trash bags the next day. I have to agree with Brook’s mother, who said she walks the trails and sees many of the same people every day. She notes that if they filled up a grocery bag once a week, it would make a huge difference. “If a 4-year-old can do it, so can they,” she said. And she’s right. I have to confess that even though I walk the trails every day, I am more attuned to my ipod than the trash. I am going to follow Brooke’s example and carry a trash bag with me when I walk the trails. You can contact me by email at claytonmayor2008@comcast.net.
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October 10, 2008
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com
Page 9
Ygnacio Valley Road repair underway ANDRÉ GENSBURGER Clayton Pioneer
Work crews have started the permanent repair work on Ygnacio Valley Road. The major arterial route was damaged during heavy flooding in March 2006, resulting in a landslide causing blockage and buckling of the road. The city of Concord submitted an application for a $1.3 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration to pay for a short-term repair to restore the roadway while a permanent solution was addressed. On Sept. 8, the City Council
Blue Star Moms seek donations for care packages The Contra Costa Blue Star Moms are asking for donations for their Care Package Drive. The Care Packages are packed with goodies, games, socks and snacks for the troops serving in Iraq. Items needed include yoyos, tennis balls, Hacky-Sacks, paddle balls, small Frisbees, word game books (Sudoku, crossword, etc.), mechanical pencils with erasers, dark-colored cotton or wool knitted hats, single package cocoa mix, tuna and chicken salad kits, gum, mints, small licorice, corn nuts, sunflower seeds, and trail mix. Drop off your care package items at one of the following sites: A-1 Self Storage, Kirker Pass at Concord Blvd; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. every day American Brokerage Co., 1712 Linda Drive, Pleasant Hill, Mon-Fri, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Office of Contra Costa County Supervisor, Susan Bonilla, 2151 Salvio St., Suite R, Concord, Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Concord Blue Devils, 4065 Nelson Ave, Concord, Mon.Sat., 4 p.m.- 12:30 a.m. Curves, 4375 H Clayton Rd, Concord. Better Homes Realty, Treat and Oakgrove Plaza in the driveway behind Citibank, Mon.-Fri. 10:30.a.m. – 5 p.m. Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc is a nonprofit support organization of mothers and fathers who have or have had children serving in the Armed Forces. For more information on the Blue Star Moms Chapter 20, go to the website: www.ccbluestarmoms.org.
André Gensburger/Clayton Pioneer
CREWS REPAIRING YGNACIO VALLEY ROAD imbed the foundations for an extended wall to prevent future landslides.
at the Pavilion Restaurant in Clayton. The event will include lunch, door prizes, a raffle and a speaker from Children’s Hospital. “My friend, Debbie Civello, started the Rowan Branch for Alamo/Danville and they have been quite successful in fundraising for the hospital for over
Faith communities and STAND! sponsor “A Day of Healing” STAND! Against Domestic Violence is sponsoring “A Day of Healing: Creating Places of Hope and Peace,” Sun., Oct. 19, 3 to 6 p.m. at the Concord Senior Center, 2727 Parkside Circle. If you or someone you know has been affected by violence – in the community, school, home and searching for a way toward healing, join
STAND! and area faith communities in this interfaith day of healing. Participate in prayer, music, ritual, and community on a journey toward healing. STAND! leads the community in ending domestic violence and rebuilding lives.
For more information, call Jennifer Joslyn-Siemiatkoski (925) 603-0103.
Free program at John Muir for blood cancer patients Join The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is sponsoring a free patient program on new therapies and clinical trials for blood cancers on Oct. 22, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the John Muir Medical Center, 1601 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek. Learn about the latest advances in blood cancer treatment and how to distinguish fact from fiction when it comes to clinical trials in this free program presented by Robert Robles, MD with the Diablo Valley Oncology and Hematology Associates. Topics covered will include
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awarded the repair contract to Gordon N. Ball Inc. of Alamo as the lowest bidder in the amount of $1,869,549. The project consists of repairing damaged pavement and construction of an underground structure to protect the roadway from a future landslide. This structure consists of a 420foot wall system extending 60 feet underground. The project is expected to be completed in November, with a minimal amount of traffic disruption during non-peak hours and weekends. For additional information, contact the city’s engineering department at 671-3361
New group ready to raise funds for Children’s Hospital Lori Hagge and Kelly Bloat have started a new fund-raising chapter for Oakland Children’s Hospital. The group covers Clayton, Concord, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek Martinez, Antioch and Brentwood. The Magnolia Branch will have its first fund-raiser on Dec. 6
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15 years,” Hagge notes. “After I brought Debbie to give a presentation, Kelly was so impressed and we learned so much more about how the hospital operates,” adds Hagge, who is the co-president with Bloat. “I always wanted to give back to the community.” The mission of Children’s Hospital and Research Center is to ensure the delivery of high quality pediatric care for all children through primary and subspecialty networks, a strong education and teaching program, a diverse workforce, nationally recognized research programs and children advocacy efforts. The hospital was envisioned in 1912 by Bertha Wright, a nurse, and a few other insightful women. They established “Baby Hospital” in the stable of a mansion on the outskirts of Oakland. The women soon realized that to keep this dream alive, they must find a means of raising funds. Children’s Hospital branches were the answer. A membership in the Magnolia Branch will help children throughout Northern California continue to receive health care designed especially for them. No child is turned away for lack of funds. “My granddaughter was in Children’s Hospital after she was born due to her ulcerative colitis,” Hagge says. The group already has about 15 members, including Becky Dixon, treasurer; Pat Virgalito, secretary; and Roberta Healy, membership. Clayton resident Alice Ponti has also joined. The Magnolia Chapter’s first general meeting will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Walnut Country Clubhouse in the Crossings. For more information, contact Lori Hagge at 998-8844 or lori@lorihagge.com.
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
October 10, 2008
Should buyers and sellers ever meet? LYNNE FRENCH
REAL ESTATE Real estate agents usually caution sellers to disappear when their home is shown to a potential buyer. And, buyers are often told that mum is the word if they happen to run into the sellers during the course of a showing. Why are agents so reluctant to let buyers and sellers get together? Most agents caution against buyers and sellers dealing directly
because of the emotional nature of the home sale transaction. Unlike other business deals, the sale of a home can get personal. Sellers often have what real estate agents call “pride of ownership.” When this is the case, an objective criticism of a property by the buyers can be misinterpreted as a personal insult by some sellers. Changing one’s home is stressful for both buyers and sellers. It’s a time of uncertainty. Therefore, it’s almost impossible to keep emotionalism our of a home sale transaction. Most real estate agents have a horror story or two of what can happen when buyers and sellers meet directly. If an off-handed remark made by one party is misinterpreted by the
other, this can lead to tension, and sometimes to the collapse of the negotiations. Sellers who don’t want to deal directly with buyers list their homes for sale with real estate agents. These sellers want an “arms-length” transaction with a real estate agent, or agents, acting as the intermediary. If you’re trying to buy a For Sale By Owner (FSBO), you may have no alternative but to deal directly with the sellers. In this case, it may be worthwhile to hire a real estate agent, or real estate attorney, to help you with the negotiations. Sometimes, however, a real estate agent gets in the way of a successful negotiation. If this happens, it’s usually because the
agent is a poor communicator, or because the agent is trying to act as the decision-maker. To avoid this problem, pick your real estate agent carefully. Suppose you do pick your agent carefully but the negotiations bog down. The problem could be the other agent. One home buyer felt that his transaction was falling apart, despite his agent’s diligent efforts. So he requested a meeting with the seller and the seller’s agent. The meeting was a success. The buyer and seller ironed out their differences and finalized all the loose ends in the transaction. The buyer’s agent summarized the details in writing and the buyer and seller signed the agreement.
The seller’s agent didn’t show up for the meeting, but the deal went forward without her. Direct negotiations have a better chance of being successful if both parties are in favor of meeting. Get the other party’s agreement to meet with you before you start discussing substantive issues. Pick a neutral place for the meeting, perhaps at your real estate agent’s office. A neutral location can help the sellers to distance themselves emotionally from their home which tends to help the negotiation process. If you do deal directly with a seller, make sure to put any verbal agreements or disclosures about the property in writing as soon as possible. Recently, buyers and
ROBBIE PARKER DVMS REPORTER
Rendering courtesy of Akol and Yoshii Inc.
JEANNA ROSS Clayton Pioneer
Step two of the Clayton Valley High School campaign to build a Performing Arts Center is complete. On Sept. 29, the Walnut Creek architecture firm of Akol and Yoshii Inc. unveiled their plans for the new facility. The new space will be a soaring glass and aluminum structure that encompasses 19,000 sq. ft. of the current CVHS campus. The theater will contain 517 permanent seats, with an additional 55 removable seats. The planned location would remove the teacher parking lot from the front of the school, though the location is still under discussion and it could be moved to another site on campus. The performing arts complex would be connected to the remainder of the walkway system across campus, making it accessible even during the rainy months. The spacious, 2,000 sq. ft. lobby would include built-in cases to display the works of the CV art classes. The theater and backstage area would be soundproofed, with sound-lock door entrances
to muffle the arrival of latecomers. The entire space is handicap-accessible, with ramps extending from the back walls through all the seating spaces. The new stage is 40 feet wide, with a 6-foot apron extending into the audience area and a 14-foot orchestra pit on an elevator system below the stage for musical productions. The pit could also be raised to extend the stage space that extra 14 feet. The wing space at the side of the stage includes 15 feet of room to maneuver during performances. The space behind the stage will include workshop areas for construction, storage area for stage materials, a green room where actors wait for their entrances, bathrooms and dressing rooms. Two additional levels allow musicians access to the orchestra pit as well as instrument storage, and technicians access to the catwalks above the stage for the hanging of lighting instruments. The stage would also include a motorized projector, two spotlights and a large projection screen for presentations. A control room at the back of the auditorium gives stage man-
FLU SHOT CLINIC
agers a full-stage view of the performance. The new theater will be approximately three times the size of the multi-use room where the CV performing arts departments currently exhibit. Its grand dimensions would give the choral and instrumental music departments the chance to return home. They are currently forced to perform offcampus due to size restrictions. According to committee chair Lori Brook, it is hoped that the center will become an “extracurricular addition to the community at large,” with the ability to rent it out to local groups and tours during the summer months and evenings. Drama teacher Tom Wills hopes that the local theater competitions currently held at Diablo Valley College could be moved to Concord. The projected timeframe for building, once the funds are raised, is 2½ years. A professional fundraiser, Mats Wallin of Diabetic Youth Foundation, has volunteered his services to help the committee find the $15 million needed to break ground on the project. For more information, visit www.claytontheatrequest.com.
Lynne French is the broker/owner of Windermere Lynne French & Associates and a Clayton resident. For any real estate needs or questions, contact her at 672-8787, Lynne@LynneFrench.com or stop in at 6200 Center St. in Clayton.
New committees aim to improve DVMS
CVHS Performing Arts plan envisions thoroughly modern theater
CVHS Performing Arts Committee proudly unveiled the plans for a $15-million, state-of-the-art theater to be constructed in about 2-1/2 years on the CVHS campus.
sellers in this area agreed verbally on the sale of a property. Before the terms of the agreement were put in writing, an offer from another set of buyers materialized. The second offer was for a higher price and the sellers accepted it. Verbal agreements to sell real estate aren’t binding. So the sellers in the above example were entitled to accept the offer even though they had a verbal agreement with the first buyers.
Diablo View Middle School is forming new student-teacher climate committees. The school hopes to get students involved in many activities. The main purpose of the committees is to allow students to help change the school for the better. The committees that have been established are Media, Activities, Safety/Go Green, Community Service and Character Education. “We’ve set up committees so students and teachers could work to create activities at school,” said principal Patti.
Bannister. “We would also like to have more students’ voices heard and to be involved.” Student Jack Clough became a part of the committees because he “wanted to get involved with the school.” Those joining the media committee will receive information from various sources about what is happening on campus. They will then be sent to different news sources in the school and community. In the activities committee, students and school staff will be developing after-school activities that will help bring the school together. On this committee, student and teachers will help organize activities such as hikes up Mt. Diablo and sports competition.
The safety/go green committee is working on ways to create a safe, eco-friendly environment throughout the school. The community service committee is looking to help our fellow citizens with book and food drives to benefit others. Meanwhile, character education is about using traits such as responsibility and integrity to build school character. These committees will add to the school experience by improving the connection between the students, school and community. With these committees established, the school is sure to be a better place for everyone. Robbie Parker is a sixth-grader at Diablo View. Send comments to Robbie@claytonpioneer.com
School News CVHS The Clayton Valley High School Marching Band, directed by Mundy Viar, participated in the
Photo by Steve Jacobson
CLAYTON VALLEY HIGH MARCHING BAND performs at Cal Band Day.
bi-annual Cal Band Day hosted by UC Berkeley Marching Band on their campus on Sept 27. CVHS students were able to see and live the role of the university music program in action by performing en masse with 2,400 band members before a crowd of 50,000 spectators. It gave students the opportunity to interact with other students. “From my perspective,” said Mr. Viar, “I have an obligation to expose the Clayton Valley students to the many opportunities that await them in the community, in college, professionally, and socially. I hope the students had the opportunity to take in the significance of participating with the band of one of the most respected universities in the country.” *** Clayton Valley High School Drama Department presents “God” by Woody Allen on Oct. 23, 24, and 25 at 7 p.m. in the Music Room at 1101 Alberta Way. This is a hilarious farcical look at Greek Theatre in the midst of existential questioning as well as a lot of Allenesque irreverence. Tickets are $5 at the door.
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October 10, 2008
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com
Page 11
Clayton Library joins One City One Book ANDRÉ GENSBURGER Clayton Pioneer
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Endowment for the Arts and with the goal of restoring reading to the identity of the American culture. For the One Book program, Clayton selected “When the
Emperor Was Divine” by Julie Otsuka. “It is about the Japanese American interment during the early days of World War II,” said Karen Hansen-Smith, senior branch librarian at the Clayton Library. “It is important also given the fact that we have a Japanese American Cultural Center in Concord.” The book begins with a Japanese American family living in Berkeley as they prepare to go to their designated camp in Utah. Clayton Library Foundation president Joyce Atkinson was keen on the idea, HansenSmith reported. “The foundation financed the purchase of 150 books to hand out,” she said, “with about 80 that will be held for our collection.” The books are handed out at no cost to people who need them. “We hope that they will read it and pass them on,” she added. The library will also feature a series of events from a multime-
dia display of “Geisha: Beyond the Painted Smile” to “A Japanese American-Child in World War II.” These activities are designed to enhance the book. In addition, Otsuka will be on hand for a discussion. There are critics of the programs who believe that the “hive” mentality of a community all reading the same thing may allow the endorsement of certain negative social values, while others declare it to be nothing more than a ploy by booksellers to sell more books. Nonetheless, other cities have enjoyed the experience. Concord is featuring Dashel Hammett’s “Maltese Falcon” complete with a replica falcon statue hidden downtown with prizes for those finding it. “We’re giving away movie tickets,” said Florence Weiss, Concord’s downtown manager. “We hope this will become an annual event,” said HansenSmith.
Knights of Columbus is the largest Fraternal group of Catholic men in the world, 1.7 million strong.
Call to hear what a Knight does for the community. Contact Claire Tryon at 673-8564 or email: greyeototo@sbcglobal.net, Pat Deplazes at 685-0573 or email patdpl@aol.com.
Ball Tournament at the bocce courts in Newhall Park.. 25 people and six teams from other Lutheran congregations in the East Bay attended the tourney. A team from Eternal Life defeated the defending champions (also from Eternal Life), keeping the traveling trophy at home for another year.
ETERNAL LIFE LUTHERAN CHURCH Eternal Life hosted the 6th Annual WELS Bay Area Bocce
For more information about Eternal Life Church, call 524-0295, or visit the church Website at www.EternalLifeLutheranChurch.org
For more information, contact Hansen-Smith at the Clayton Community Library at 673-0659 or visit claytonlibrary.org.
Church News ST. BONAVENTURE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY Fr. Thomas Bonacci, Associate Pastor at St. Ignatius in Antioch, will speak Sun. Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. on “Teaching Meditation in our Busy Lives” at St. Bonaventure’s Catholic Church, 5562 Clayton Rd., Concord.
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This is Clayton’s first year as part of the One City One Book program, a nationwide component of a literacy program as well as a book discussion group beginning Oct. 20 and lasting through Nov. 19. Started by Nancy Pearl in 1998 at Seattle’s Public Library and called “If All of Seattle Read the Same Book,” the idea caught on and quickly spawned chapters in cities across the county as One City One Book. The idea is simple. Each participating city selects a book, obtains copies that can be handed out and encourages everyone to read that book during a designated time period. In addition, relevant activities centered around that book take place at the library and other areas, designed to foster enthusiasm and understanding of the many components of the book. The goal is to build a strong sense of community while promoting literacy. The American Library
Association even put together a detailed step-by-step guide explaining how to conduct the program. The Big Read is a similar program, this one through the National
Concord Council will have their “Early Bird Sale” of “Keep Christ In Christmas” Christmas cards, Oct. 11, 12 at St Bonaventure Cat. Items can also be ordered by calling Claire Tryon, (925) 673-8564 or greyeototo@sbcglobal.net . *** The Knights of Columbus, Concord Council 6038, serving Clayton and Concord, is having an ongoing membership drive for the ’08-’09 year. The
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How to fix tax return errors Suppose you discover a mistake or omission of an item on the 2007 federal tax return you recently filed. Should you ignore the error? Although it can depend on the nature and significance of the item, the answer is generally no. The matter may be resolved by filing an amended 2007 return. You should file an amended return right away if you’ve paid less tax than the amount you actually owe. If the IRS detects the mistake, it can require you to pay the difference in tax liability
plus substantial interest and penalties. As a general rule, the IRS has three years in which to audit a return, but the statute of limitations is extended to six years if you underreport income by more than 25 percent. And there’s no time limit if fraud is involved. When a change works in your favor, consider all the ramifications. If you stand to receive only a few extra dollars back, it’s probably not worth the effort. This also gives the IRS another chance to scrutinize
your return. On the other hand, if you expect a sizable refund in return, it usually makes sense to pursue this action. One of the common reasons for amending a return is to change your tax filing status or dependency exemptions. For instance, there could be some confusion over claiming exemptions for children following a divorce. Similarly, you may have overlooked special deductions or credits available on 2007 returns. This includes tax breaks for mortgage insurance premiums,
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Understanding the benefits of a living trust A living trust offers several estate planning benefits. First and foremost, assets held in the trust prior to death avoid probate. Living trusts also can be particularly useful for married couples in community property states who had a substantial amount of property or assets prior to the marriage. The primary goal of estate planning is to ensure that your assets are distributed to your loved ones according to your wishes and in a timely manner. A living trust (also referred to as a revocable trust, declaration of trust or inter vivos trust) can help you achieve this goal. When you establish a living trust, you transfer ownership of all of your assets to the trust. You can name yourself or someone else, such as a family member, friend, bank or trust company, as the trustee.
RICHARD LITTORNO FINANCIAL SENSE If you name someone else as trustee, you can require him or her to consult you before buying or selling assets. And if you’re not satisfied with your named trustee, you can modify his or her powers, name a new trustee or revoke the trust completely. The trust becomes irrevocable when you die, and the trust
assets are distributed according to your wishes – immediately, during a period of years or based on specific milestones, such as a graduation or birthday. Any assets remaining in the trust continue to grow and provide for your family for years to come. Avoiding probate is key. Probate can be time-consuming because of the required notifications and court proceedings. In addition, it’s a public process, so anyone can learn about your financial affairs – which can increase the chance that someone will challenge your wishes regarding how your assets are distributed. Avoiding probate is especially beneficial when you own real estate or other property in more than one state, so that your estate might have to go through ancillary probate (multiple pro-
bate proceedings). Living trusts also can be particularly useful for married couples in community property states who had a substantial amount of property or assets prior to the marriage. The trust can help keep those assets separate from those that would be considered community property. Sometimes, paperwork and cost are involved in establishing a living trust. For example, the titles to your assets must be transferred to the trust. In addition, you have to ensure that future assets are registered to the trust. You also will need a pour-over will to transfer any assets outside the trust to the trust on your death. Professional fees, such as investment advisory and trustee fees,
See Sense, page 17
Page 12
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
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Holiday time means joy and fun. But it also means a little more work and a tighter schedule. And it’s a big “uh oh” should one of our appliances decide to take some time off. If this happens to you, Appliance Repairs by Bruce, located in Clayton, will be right there to set things right. Bruce Linsenmeyer and his wife Holly pride themselves on their availability, with Clayton and Concord residents receiving the benefit of proximity. “They get appointments first thing in the morning or late afternoon times,” which makes his service incredibly convenient for everyone. While he generally works from 9-5, Monday through Friday, he also schedules emergency weekend appointments. “My customers shouldn’t have to wait until Monday to hear from someone.” Customer service is the key to this business, and the key reason Bruce went into business for himself. Holly runs a tight ship to ensure that their reputation remains stainless. “He’s there when he says he’s going to be there.” Making appointments is simple. Call (925) 672-2700, visit their Website at http://appliancerepairsbybruce.googlepage s.com, or email repairsbybruce@gmail.com.
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Lighting up your life is what Jim Burkin does best. As the sole proprietor of Burkin Electric, Jim handles all of your residential, commercial, light industrial and remodeling needs. This year, light up your home for the holidays. Jim can install safe, approved electric outlets right where you need them. He will provide free estimates for residential ceiling fans, recessed lighting and landscape lighting, service and repair. Jim is the first and last person you’ll see on any job because he believes in excellent service and a quality product. Jim has devoted his 30-year career to the electrical industry working in a variety of venues. He does all the work himself, so you know it’s done right. Call Jim for a free estimate at (925) 672-1519 or (925) 212-3339.
CD FEDERAL If one of your New Year’s resolutions has anything to do with managing your money, now is the time to get started. CD Federal Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-oriented
financial institution with a family environment. They have been serving members since 1954, offering a wide range of financial products and services such as free checking, online banking, mobile banking, bill pay, auto and home loans, credit cards, free financial planning and much more. CD Federal regularly offers free financial education seminars to members. Visit their Website, www.cdfcu.org, for a schedule of upcoming seminars and events.We are insured by the NCUA (National Credit Union Administration) and ASI (American Share Insurance). Each individual share account is insured for $350,000 and additional insurance is available according to account ownership. To learn more about CD Federal and how you can join, call (925) 825-0900, visit www.cdfcu.org or stop by 1855 Second Street in Concord.
DR. JENNY CHONG Dr. Jenny Chong is one of the newest additions to the family dentistry scene. Dr. Chong just celebrated her first full year in business in Concord, after eight years in an Alameda group practice. She is accepting new patients, including walk-ins, so there is no excuse not to have that cleaning done today and face the holidays with a sparkling white smile Dr. Chong’s modern office utilizes the latest technology. Her patient-focused approach is extremely gentle, but for the dental-phobic, she also has the option of sedation. She offers both general and cosmetic dentistry. Consultations for cosmetic procedures (including teeth whitening) and Invisiline braces are free. Dr. Chong accepts most types of insurance. The office is at 5167 Clayton Road, Suite E, across from Lucky’s. For information, call 827-5595 or visit www.drjennychong.com.
MARIO NAVEA GENERAL BUILDING CONTRACTOR Autumn brings a much closer inspection of our living quarters than those bright summer months when we were busy with outdoor activities. Starting to notice all those tiny imperfections? Call Mario Navea, General Building Contractor, for all your home improvement needs. Navea is available for nearly any project his clients can dream up, from general repairs and handyman services to building a brand-new house if the old one just won't suit.
Navea has experience with even the most unusual projects; however, his typical tasks include termite reports and the subsequent repair work, electrical and plumbing, and installing doors and windows. He can also spruce up your home's landscaping by building retaining walls, retrofitting, and replacing foundations, or building a beautiful new patio or deck on which to enjoy the sights and smells of the fall. Mario Navea works all over the Bay Area. Call (925) 6735260 or email Mario@marionavea.com today. Lic. #: 672628
NICHOLS LANDSCAPE It is a little-known fact that the California autumn is the perfect time to completely renew your home’s landscaping. The cool weather of the fall, winter, and spring allows cool season grasses, trees, and plants time to establish before the blistering heat of the summer reeks its havoc. To redesign your yard, call Concord native Boyce Nichols of Nichols Landscape. Nicholas has been serving Concord for over twenty years, first learning the business from his older brother, then striking out on his own. “We specialize in any kind of installation, including sod installation and plantings,” says Nichols. “We can install pavers, concrete, patios, arbors, decks, sprinkler systems, low-voltage lighting, or retaining walls. We can also do awesome stuff like waterfalls and bridges.” For a free estimate or to reserve Nichols and his team, call (925) 672-9955, email Nicholslandscape@msn.com, or visit nicholslandscape.com. A complete photo gallery is available to peruse online.
SEASONAL REFLECTIONS This big, bright, beautiful, holiday and party superstore in the Clayton Valley Shopping Center has absolutely EVERYTHING for every holiday. One step inside and it’s pure magic. Clayton resident and proprietor, John Sharapata has always loved the holidays and it shows. There’s a year ‘round costume room with costumes for everyone in the family, even the dog and cat. In just a few weeks, it will be the Christmas season. Make an early stop in the year 'round Christmas room and choose from wonderful custom lights and decorations to trim every inch of your home, inside and out. There are hundreds of light sets. Seasonal Reflections Party
Rentals can also outfit your home for every kind of party with tables, tents, chairs…everything you need to make a festive occasion. Like to avoid the shopping crowds? Then shop online at www.seasonalreflections.com. Seasonal reflections is in the Clayton Valley Shopping
STRAIGHT LINE IMPORTS Thinking about new granite counter tops? There is no better gift to yourself than to enhance the beauty of your kitchen or bathroom vanity by adding new custom fabricated granite or marble counter tops. Granite is virtually stain free and requires very little maintenance. Straight Line Imports is a custom fabricator and one of the larger fabrication and installation companies in the East Bay offering free in home estimating and free design ideas. They stock a variety of faucets, fixtures and sinks at below wholesale prices. “If you are thinking about remodeling or just replacing you counter tops you owe it to yourself to call us. We are a locally owned and operated company. We wish you the best for a healthy and happy holiday season,” says owner Rick Fox. Straight Line Imports is located at 3795 Pacheco Blvd. in Martinez. Tel: (925) 335-9801
THE ROYAL ROOSTER
Gorgeous home décor is just a short walk away at The Royal Rooster. Find the items you need to decorate every room in your house for your earth-toned autumn or shimmering holiday seasons. Tired of the same old look available in every nationwide chain store? The Royal Rooster has both hard-to-find antiques and custom-order furniture to fit your needs. Not just a furniture shop, The Royal Rooster also sells unique gifts for friends and family of all ages, including the popular Webkinz that the children in your life have been craving. Their French Country specialties includes gorgeous stationeries and bath items for every occasion, including distinctive lines like Thymes Bath & Body, Caldrea, Rosy Rings, Root, Mill Valley, and Seda France. Corporate gifts and personal shopping services are also available. The Royal Rooster is located at the corner of Center and Diablo Streets, in Clayton, behind Cup O’ Jo Coffee House.
TODAY HAULING This holiday season, take some of the stress out of trying to do everything yourself Today Hauling and Unique Gardening of Concord is available to haul away all of your household, garbage, and yard debris. Replacing the refrigerator? Call Today Hauling! Cutting down that dead tree? Call Today Hauling! Need to ditch all that
old junk in the garage so there is room for the car? Call Today Hauling! Today Hauling can also meet all your gardening needs. They install low-voltage mood lighting to accent those beautiful trees and brick paths, create hightech sprinkler solutions to make sure that hard-earned landscaping lives through the California summer, and can overseed and aerate when the baking sun causes the ground to harden and crack. Available for both one-time clean-up of your yard or regular, weekly or bi-weekly maintenance. Here’s a great gift idea. How about six-months of yard maintenance for the “honey-do” in your life? For all your hauling and gardening needs, call (925) 4974907 or email todayhauling@yahoo.com.
TRAVELING TRAINERS Nothing beats stress like a great physical workout. But with the holidays coming and the bad weather approaching, the trips to the gym are usually the first casualty. “If only I had a gym in my house,” you wish. Well, Ilima Heuerman, is about to grant your wish. Traveling Trainers will bring the gym to you. Yes, that means house calls. Now there are “no more excuses.” One-on-one instruction and workout in Hot Yoga, Vinyasa Flow, Core, Power Yoga and Astanga or a custom program designed for you,
Ilima will have you at your tiptop self in no time. Or, how about a Traveling Trainers gift certificate for that really special someone in your life? So, turn away from the computer, get up from the desk and call Traveling Trainers to bring your personal trainer right to your house.
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YOGA SOL Yoga Sol of Concord has a new location in the Clayton Valley Shopping Center. The new space includes a retail store where patrons can purchase their yoga supplies before and after class. This month, save $10 off any purchase of $50 or more. Yoga Sol offers classes in Hot Yoga, Pilates, Vinyasa Flow, Meditation, Kripalu, and more from 8 different instructors. “All of the classes are beginnerfriendly,” says owner Tara Clay. “We really cater to the individual. It doesn’t matter how many years someone has studied yoga. We make pose modifications. We try to make each person feel as though they had a private class.” Come experience the physical benefits of yoga, including relief of back pain, stress, and sleep disorders, while losing weight and gaining strength and flexibility. Visit yogasol.net or call (925) 288-9642 for more information. Local residents get their first class free!
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Page 14
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
October 10, 2008
Clayton Sports
CV water polo team takes Sierra by storm RANDY ROWLAND Clayton Pioneer
The Clayton Valley Eagles girls water polo team returned with the championship trophy from the Sierra Shootout Sept. 19-20 in Rocklin. The large invitational involves 64 teams from the Bay Area and Northern California. Due to its size, it has been divided into two weekends, each involving 32 teams. The Eagles, coached by Dennis Bledsoe, played in the first flight. Clayton Valley opened play against Beyer High School from the Central Valley. The Eagles pulled out a 6-5 nail biter, with Kelsey Carrigan, Alyse Haisley and Allyson Hansen scoring goals. The game was a see saw that saw Clayton hold on for the victory. The Eagles had an easier time in their second game, defeating Fresno High School 19-7. Thirteen Clayton Valley players scored goals. The Eagles stamina was put to the test in their third game of the day, as they faced Oak Ridge High School from El Dorado Hills. Clayton Valley did not let fatigue bother them, and they rolled to a 9-2 win and secured a spot in the medal round. Among those scoring goals were Carrigan, Haisley, Hansen and Ashley Richman. In the first round games, Lauren Jones was a stalwart on defense – leading the Eagles back line valiantly. On Saturday, the Clayton girls faced the Bishop O’Dowd Dragons of Oakland. The hardfought game was tied 3-3 going into the fourth quarter. Clayton got two late goals to finish 5-3 and advance to the championship. Ashley Jennings, Carrigan, Haisley and Hansen scored goals. Goalkeeper Kristin Bishop was a mainstay throughout the tournament. In the championship, the
Photo by Chip Bishop
CLAYTON’S HANNAH POLSHUK takes control during a game at the Sierra Shootout tournament in Rocklin last month. Eagles battled Edison High School of Fresno. In a classic back and forth affair, Clayton was down 8-7 and called a timeout in the last two minutes. The girls regrouped and scored two goals in the last minute to win the title. Carrigan and Jones scored the last two goals, with Hansen scoring three goals. Four Clayton girls were named to the All Tournament team: Haisley, Hansen, Jones and Carrigan. The Eagles play in the new Diablo Valley Athletic League
(DVAL). Bledsoe sees the team being able to compete near the top this season. “This group has few players with a lot of experience, so it will take concentrated dedication for them to succeed at a high level,” he said. “If they focus more, they can do much better than what they or I expected.” Clayton resident Hannah Polshuk is in her third year on the team. She used to swim but is now focusing on water polo. “I’m hoping we’ll do very well
this season,” she said. “We started off by winning the Sierra Shootout, and we will continue to grow as a team and get better by working hard in practice.” Ashley Richman, a junior, is another Clayton player. So far, Richman likes what she sees of the team. “We’ll do very well this year. We are a close team and learning to work together. My goal is to make the NCS playoffs.” Clayton’s Logan Shaw made the varsity squad as a freshman.
This past summer was the first time Logan tried her hand at water polo and immediately felt like she belonged in the pool. She had previously played basketball and also swam. Shaw said she will always remember scoring a goal in her first varsity game in the tournament. “I’m learning so much being on this team,” she said. “The team included me immediately and made me feel comfortable.” Bledsoe has coached the varsity girls for 12 years. He has
been coaching the swim team or water polo team since 1970. The coach has had his share of success, including a league championship and top four finish in NCS in 2002, and he has prepared many athletes to play at the college level. “I have always enjoyed watching kids improve and succeed beyond their expectations,” he said. His goal is to have the athletes playing better by the end of the year. “I enjoy seeing the kids reach out of their comfort zone,” he added.
Members Only take Bocce League gold for third time League still working for courts in Clayton ED HARTLEY Special to the Pioneer
GOLD MEDALISTS, Front row, Pat Middendorf, Debi Branich, Mitzi Schenke, Mary Jane Keifer and Debra Gonsalves. Back row, Jim Middendorf, Bob Schenke, Steve Gonsalves, Tom Branich and Mike Keifer
On Sept. 21, the Clayton Bocce League finished its seventh season by awarding medals to the top three teams in each of its divisions. The league plays as part of the Concord Bocce League. In the 6:00 division, which has 16 teams, Members Only became the first three-time winner of the gold medal when it beat the only other two-time winner, silver medalists the Bocce Buzzards, 5-12, 12-3 and 13-11. Bada Bang defeated Bella Vino 12-6, 12-9 to claim the
bronze. In the 3:00 division, with 12 teams, the Springwood Rollers beat Dieci Amici 12-7, 12-10 to take first place. The 3 Amigos beat Pallino Pirates 6-12, 12-7, 5-12 to take third. This year marked the end of seven seasons that the Clayton Bocce League has played on Sunday afternoons at Newhall Park, home of the Concord Bocce League, which plays during the week. Clayton’s league started in 2001 with 16 teams, and in 2007 expanded to 24 teams when it started a 3:00 division. The 3:00 division expanded to 12 teams this year, taking the league membership to 28 teams and 280 players. In 2005, the Clayton City
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Council approved plans for the construction of eight courts behind City Hall. The project was later reduced to seven courts. The city donated the land and funded the planning process. The concept was to allow the Clayton league to raise funds through private donations to construct the courts, lights, arbors, benches, tables, seating, landscaping, sound fences, building pads for future community storage facilities, bathrooms and infrastructure. Efforts by the league to raise the money soon ran into a roadblock. Three bids (each of them incomplete) by experienced construction companies resulted in estimates ranging from $570,000 to $1,570,000. The
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high cost estimates were exacerbated by the slowing economy. The Clayton league has asked the city’s Redevelopment Agency to schedule a hearing at its Oct. 21 meeting to discuss (but not act on) a request by the league that the Redevelopment Agency consider the use of redevelopment money to build the courts and lights and associated infrastructure, with the later addition of the other components as more money is raised. All those interested in locating bocce courts in Clayton are encouraged to attend this meeting to show your support.
The Redevelopment Agency meets after the 7 p.m. City Council meeting on Oct. 21 in the library meeting room.
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October 10, 2008
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page 15
Clayton Sports Diablo FC’s U15 girls take first at Bob Fowler tourney RANDY ROWLAND Clayton Pioneer
The newly formed Diablo Futbol Club held its fourth major event of the inaugural season, hosting the Bob Fowler Memorial Class III tournament Sept. 27-28 in Concord. Following the success of the Diablo Cup in March, the Diablo FC Summer Classic and Devil Mountain U9-U10 jamboree over the summer, this tournament featured nine teams from the local club, made up mostly of players from Clayton and Concord. The tournament attracted 64 teams, in divisions from U12 to U19 for both boys and girls. That included teams from Santa Rosa, Elk Grove, Rocklin, Santa Cruz and Modesto. It was an overwhelming success – with 111 games played over two days, involving 333 referee assignments, and countless volunteers manning field stations and overseeing all of the venues. Six Diablo FC teams reached either the championship game or the consolation game.
BIG WIN FOR UNITED The U15 girls team United was the only Diablo FC team to take first place. Their first game
was against a Livermore Earthquakes team. United controlled the game and defeated Livermore 3-0. In their second
game, United faced the Hayward Hotshots – who came out playing hard. United took an early lead but Hayward came
back to force a 1-1 tie. As day two started, United played their sister DFC team, the Revolution. Halfway into
Photo by Rod Detmer
THE U16 GIRLS UNITED, CHAMPIONS OF THE 2008 BOB FOWLER MEMORIAL. Back Row: Katey Hunter, Alexa Kindred, Brook Tooker, Krista Bartzi, Sarah Okimoto, Coach Robert O’Brien, Audrey Van Horn, Audrey Detmer, Danielle Bordelon, Megan Dwyer, Cassie Carter, Coach Gary Khachadoorian. Front Row: Amanda Johnston, Jessica Alderete, Marisa Khachadoorian, Alexandra Lamoureux, Avery Van Horn, Rachel Smith.
De La Salle moves out of DVAL Each issue, a panel of Clayton sports enthusiasts will air their views on a current topic in the sporting world. If you would like to suggest a topic or question to our panels, email sports@claytonpioneer.com. Is De La Salle High School’s move out of the local athletic league good or bad for the newly formed Diablo Valley Athletic League and for Clayton Valley High School? HELENA: You can look at this as being both good and bad. It’s good because the new league consists of many local schools, thus creating new and natural rivalries within Concord. Also, I expect the new league to be highly competitive. Finally, not getting smoked by DLS every year is also a good thing. It’s bad because some great rivalries will come to an end.
CVHS vs. Pittsburg in football or CVHS vs. DLS in baseball comes to mind. Worst of all, its bad because the annual dream to kick DLS’s butt comes to an end. KIRMSSE: For as long as I have been following high school sports, De La Salle has been at or near the top of the national rankings. Clayton Valley’s reaction to De La Salle not participating in the new DVAL should be: We’ll miss the competition but can we help you pack your bags? This could be a great year for the Eagles, with returning senior QB Joey Levine who should emerge as a DVAL league leader. The Eagles will need to give him outside speed and, as is always required for wins in football, impeccable blocking and execution. STELZNER: I think there are real winners and losers under the realignment and, unfortunately, Clayton Valley is on the losing side. The new DVAL might look to be good for Clayton Valley since the new league is made of schools that have a natural rivalry because of their prox-
Rob Helena
Leigh Kirmsse
imity. However, not having De La Salle to compete against will be a loss for Clayton Valley. Having them on the schedule not only raised the bar on competition but also created excitement for the kids in Clayton and Concord because both schools drew from the same talent pool. Moving to the East Bay Athletic League (EBAL) will be better for De La Salle because the “corridor” schools also have strong sports programs and will offer tougher competition than they’ve consistently had in the past. If there is a clear winner, it may be the other schools in the EBAL because they brought additional blue chip talent into their league. I asked my daughter, Jenna, and she summed it up nicely. “De La Salle was Clayton Valley’s biggest rival, and it was fun. Right now, we don’t have one and I’ll miss them.” RAFALLO: De La Salle should be in a different league. With high school powerhouse sports programs becoming more and more recognized for college scholarships, etc., it’s unfair to
Deanna Merrigan
Tina Rafallo
have private high schools play public high schools because it’s not always a level playing field. De La Salle has an excellent sports program and they should be allowed to play other high schools that have the same caliber of programs. I think this is good for DVAL, Clayton Valley High and surrounding high schools. They will be playing teams closer in proximity, which also makes for fun rivalries. SNYDER: I was saddened to see that Clayton Valley would not be playing De La Salle in many sports. In our community, the kids grow up planning to attend one of these two schools and from an early age the kids know there is a friendly rivalry. Just ask Oregon State what it would mean not to play USC in football. From a competitive standpoint, you always want to compete against the best. It is a challenge to see how far you have come or how far you need to go to play with the big boys. Watching De La Salle play CV in football always meant large crowds (at least until halftime) and the kids were energized to
the first half, United scored the only goal of the game. The Revolution pushed hard but weren’t able to get the ball in the net and United finished with a 1-0 win – solidifying a spot in the finals. In the championship, they faced the San Ramon Stingers. They had won their bracket with the same record as the United, two wins and a tie. In the first half, Katey Hunter scored a fantastic goal. Just as the goalie was reaching for the ball, Hunter headed it into the back of the net. The United defense and midfield held tight and they finished the game 1-0 win to take first place. “The girls trusted each other and the coaches and played great,” said coach Rob O’Brien. “The forwards played hard and produced six goals; the midfielders dominated play; and the defense gave up one goal all weekend.” FURY PUTS UP A FIGHT The Diablo FC Fury, a U12 girls team, had its finest weekend of the season to date. After
See Fowler, page 16
Chris Snyder
Ralph Stelzner
try a beat a nationally ranked team. I will miss the side bets with the parents in the green hats at Ed’s. I’m kidding ... not. MERRIGAN: This is a tough question because with change usually comes rebuilding and refocusing. De La Salle is set to join the EBAL, which has historically been one of the strongest leagues in the state. The addition of De La Salle should make it even stronger. As for the new DVAL, it will be interesting to see how this move changes things. For instance, a loss for De La Salle in their new league could open up possibilities for other teams with the new section and state playoff systems. Still, with change comes growth. Only time will tell but, in general, I think it will be a good move for both Clayton Valley High and the newly formed DVAL. Are you a sports junkie? If you are opinionated and interested in becoming a panelist for the Speaking of Sports feature, contact us at sports@claytonpioneer.com.
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
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Clayton Sports Clayton diver travels the globe JEANNA ROSS Clayton Pioneer
While most high school sophomores contemplate vacations full of driver’s training and girlfriends, Kristian Ipsen had bigger plans: the Olympic trials. From June 18-22, the Clayton resident competed against the best senior divers in the country. “It was surreal,” he says. “It was the biggest meet I’ve ever been to. The last round was televised. In the first round, I was 11th out of 12. When you’re nervous, it’s hard to ride the board and get the timing of it because you’re so tense. “I started to loosen up in the second round and I had my best list score ever. That brought me up to fifth place overall. And then for the third round, I stayed in fifth place.” After the pressures of the meet, Ipsen began the rigorous Olympic selection process. “Whoever won the Olympic trials went to the Olympics,” he notes “There was a camp to choose the second place person and the synchronized teams. We were there a little over a week. I took third overall, so I was named the alternate for the Olympic team.” Thus began the tense anticipatory period. Would he stay or would he go? “I kept practicing just in case. (The Olympic team) trained at Stanford right before they left and one guy fell off the diving board and really messed up his leg. I got a text from a friend who was watching,” he recalls. “The guy still ended up competing and did really well, but I was
like ‘Are you serious?’ ” Ipsen didn’t go to Beijing, but the disappointment didn’t dull his enjoyment of the games. “It was cool being on the inner circle and seeing my team-
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mates competing while I was watching it in Tahoe with my friends.” Being named an Olympic alternate certainly didn’t give him a vacation. “I had the Senior Nationals and took second. After that was Junior Nationals, where I got two firsts and a second. That qualified me for Germany, which I just got
EAGLES ALUMNI GAME As part of Clayton Valley High School’s anniversary celebration, the Eagles will host a full-contact alumni game at 1 p.m. Oct. 18 at CVHS Stadium. Players from odd years will compete against the even years. Cost is $50, which includes coaches, game officials, jerseys, a trainer and equipment. Alumni from odd years should contact Brad Swint at 997-2691 and even years should contact Les Garaventa at lescpa@pacbell.net. For additional information and to sign up, contact Coach Herc Pardi at 682-7474, ext. 5 or visit www.claytonvalleyhighschool.com.
Fowler, from page 15 against Montclair Clippers and then beat Castro Valley United 3-2 and Hayward United 2-0. They fell in the championship game to the Mustang Tornados 3-1. In the Castro Valley game,
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jump off a 35-foot platform.” He became good friends with the people from Great Britain, since they had a shared language. “We start to see each other more and more on each
Photo courtesy of Linda Ipsen
Sports Shorts
a fourth place finish at the Santa Clara Rotary Cup, the Fury got off to a slow start in a difficult Al Caffodio league but has been improving. They kicked off the tournament by battling to a 1-1 tie
back from,” he says. “This was the Junior World Championship meet. It was really tough, way harder than our Senior Nationals. These will be the people who will probably be in
KRISTIAN IPSEN STANDS IN FRONT OF THE SCOREBOARD at the Jr. Nationals diving competition where he scored all 10s in the 10 meter platform.
CV NEEDS SWIM COACHES Clayton Valley High School has openings for boys and girls var-
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October 10, 2008
Mark Anderson
the Olympics for 2012. I ended up in the top 12 on all three boards.” Despite the pressures, diving competitions aren’t all work. “While you’re competing, it’s pretty stressful – especially in the finals when everyone’s going crazy,” he says. “But then they stop and you could hear a pin drop. And then they want you to
trip and you start trading stuff. I have a ton of stuff from Great Britain and Japan.” All these experiences have infected Ipsen with the travel bug. “When I go to a new place, I’m really excited to dive, but I’m also excited to explore. It’s cool having that independence,” he says. “After college and stuff, I would like to travel Europe.”
sity and junior varsity swim coaches Paid positions start Feb. 2, 2009. To apply, contact Pat Middendorf at www.pm258@aol.com. TERRAPIN WATER POLO PROGRAM Nov. 10 - Jan 29. Open to players grade 6 through 12. The program will run Tues. and Thurs., 7-8:40 p.m. at the Concord Community Pool. Experienced USA Water Polo certified coaches will direct the program. For program details or to register online, visit the Terrapins Web site at www.terrapinswim.com or call (925) 680-8372 for more information. TERRAPIN SWIM TRAINING PROGRAM Nov. 10 - Jan 29. Join the Terrapins and prepare for the upcoming high school swim season. The program will run Mon. through Thurs., 4-5:30 p.m. at the Concord Community Pool. Experienced USA Water Polo certified coaches will direct the program. For program details or to register on line, visit the Terrapins Web site at www.terrapinswim.com or call (925) 680-8372 for more information.
the Fury game back from a two-goal deficit to score three late goals and advance to the finals. Clayton residents Rachel DeLong and Nicole Haley had goals in that game, while Kimber Searle and Zoe Westwater each scored two goals this weekend. “The girls put out a tremendous effort,” coach Chris Haley said. “They have been working hard in practice and it is beginning to show.” Goalkeeper Paige Alford is in her first year on the team and loves playing keeper. “You always get to communicate with the defense and you really help the team,” she said. “I liked the tournament because there were good teams we played against and it was a good challenge,” DeLong noted. TIGHT GAMES FOR SAPRISSA The U14 boys Diablo FC Saprissa also made the finals. They opened with a 2-0 win against Castro Valley United, with goals from Brandon Bolender and Eric Goshey, on a great pass from James Massey. In the second game, Saprissa tied Elk Grove Wild 00. Chris Sanchez and Geraldo
Segovia played outstanding defense, and Ryan Phillips made some great saves. They managed to get into the final with a 1-1 tie against Modesto before losing to a gold flight team from WCC Alliance. The Diablo FC ’95 Crossfire U13 team finished in third in the U14 girls group. They started off with a 0-0 tie against Folsom Freedom before bouncing back to dominate West Marin Shooting Stars 4-0. Their final game was against another Diablo FC team, the ’95 Phoenix, whom they defeated 5-0. Crossfire faced another Diablo FC team in the consolation game on Sunday. They avenged a loss a week prior in league play by defeating the Ambush 5-1. The U16 girls Rush coached by Jenny Haney was a finalist in the Black division, losing a tough PK shootout against Elk Grove in the championship game. The U16 girls Revolution, a new team coached by Kurt Ecklin, was involved in three close games, winning one and losing two by one goal – including a 1-0 heartbreaker against eventual champions DFC United.
October 10, 2008
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page 17
Keep your dog behaving by avoiding boredom BARBARA DWYER
PAWS
AND
CLAWS
We live in close quarters with another species, Canis lupus familiaris, the family dog. We may assume that they will behave more like us than their ancestors, the wolf, but when we do, it can mean trouble for Spot. Humans are more intelligent than the dog. But would a smart owner expect a dog to understand English or resist the intrinsic urge to chase a squirrel? If I say, “Spot, come!” and he runs after a squirrel instead, is it because he’s stubborn and disobedient? No, it’s because squirrels are more interesting. Worse still, if calling Spot
means we are also leaving the dog park, he has to forfeit both the squirrel and playing with friends. How many of our kids would come under similar conditions? If we’re smarter, it should be easier for us to understand them than vice versa. Dogs were born to scavenge, hunt, chase, shred, chew, dig and bark. When those basic drives are satisfied, a dog is no longer compelled by his wolf genes to gnaw on the chair, chew our socks or unstuff the teddy. But that’s the dilemma. The dog doesn’t live in the forest; he lives in our homes. His food comes from the local pet store, not the hunt. I open the cupboard and give the bored doggie a bone. At the end of my day, that’s all I have the energy to do. And, it’s going to get worse.
The rain is coming, and it gets dark earlier. We’re exhausted, but our dogs aren’t. Where can we find the “free” time to exercise and train our dogs? If we do nothing, normal dog behavior will increase. We humans call this “misbehavior.” Spot may cruise the countertops, chew the chair, dig up the daffodils, bark for joy, jump or shred throw pillows. So for all you weary couch potatoes, here are some fun ways to meet Spot’s needs, do some training and burn off his excess energy. Get a container of dog treats, a glass of wine, turn on the TV and begin. Cookie toss recalls: Before Spot has dinner, play a recall game. Sit down; toss one piece of kibble at a time in different directions. Let Spot chase and eat them. After three or four times, say “Spot, come.” When
Spot starts to move toward you, cheer. Then offer him a better reward, say five pieces of kibble or one piece of cheese. He’ll chase, pounce and learn to come when called. Treasure hunts: Instead of feeding Spot in his bowl, ask for a sit. Then toss his food out on the deck and let him scavenge for dinner on the ground instead of the counter. Plastic bottle dinners: Put his kibble in an empty plastic water bottle. Ask for a sit. Reward the sit with the bottle. It makes great crunching noises and dispenses his dinner piece by piece. And remember - tired, content dogs are excellent foot warmers.
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Barbara Dwyer is certified Behavior Counselor and Dog Trainer. Send your comments to her at seespotstay@pacbell.net.
JAVIER Javier is a lively and affectionate little guy who is hoping to find a family that has the time to devote to keeping him mentally and physically exercised.
MOLLY MALONE He’ll probably be a star in his training classes and he’ll enjoy regular outdoor excursions with his new folks too. The adoption fee for adult
dogs is $225 and includes the first seven training courses. Molly Malone is an outgoing girl that loves getting atten-
Sense, from page 11
Money, from page 1
or trust company as the trustee. It’s also important to understand a living trust’s limitations. The trust doesn’t reduce estate taxes, because trust assets are included in your taxable estate. It also doesn’t protect assets from your creditors, because you’re still in control of the trust assets. With a living trust, the trustee can manage your financial affairs should you become incapacitated. Or, if you’re the trustee, you can name a successor trustee to take over management of the trust and make financial decisions on your behalf in such a situation. You can specify in the trust how incapacity must be determined – typically, one or two letters from a physician are required. You may also include special provisions, such as specifying that you want to be cared for at home rather than
capital improvement budget for 2008-09. “The city thinks this is a questionable ruling,” says City Manager Gary Napper. “We don’t think they have the authority to do this.” In a resolution opposing the seizure adopted at the Aug. 19 meeting, an outraged City Council resolves “It is time for the State of California to cut up its local government credit cards, stop banking on city coffers, and deal with its budget deficit in a straightforward way: Balance the state budget with state funds.” Redevelopment funds are typically used by cities to improve their infrastructure, to make cities more attractive to business and to increase property values. Clayton created its Redevelopment Agency in 1987 with a 40-year life and a cap on how much money it could raise
at a nursing home or other long-term care facility, and authorizing the trustee to continue making charitable contributions. Providing instructions about your comfort, care and finances is especially important when your successor trustee is a bank or other institution or a distant family member who may not be aware of your personal wishes. A living trust can provide for your family’s financial future per your wishes. But a living trust isn’t necessary for everyone. Discuss with your estate planning professional whether a living trust is right for you. Richard Littorno is an attorney specializing in estate planning. He has offices in Clayton and Pittsburg. Send your questions to rlittorno@msn.com.
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Javier and Molly Malone are ARF’s Adoption Stars tion. She is very sweet and would love to fill your home with her love. The adoption fee for adult cats is $50. Meet your forever friend at Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, during adoption hours: 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The primary caretaker must be present to adopt. ARF also encourages kids 16 and younger and canine family members (dog adoptions only) to be present during the adoption process. Would you like to be part of the heroic team that saves the lives of rescued dogs and cats? Can you share your talents to connect people and animals? ARF volunteers are making a difference! For more information see our Web site, www.arf.net, or call (925) 256-1ARF.
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from incremental tax increases. The agency “dies” in 2027, but it will reach its cap in 2013. “So there’s only a finite amount of money available for redevelopment,” Napper says. “We will only have a limited amount over the next five or six years so we have to be very judicious about where we spend these funds. We need to spend them on the downtown.” This latest grab brings the total lost to the state to $4.5 million.
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
October 10, 2008
When in doubt, just add money to make things right
ANDRÉ GENSBURGER
DEAL WITH IT Would you send me some money, please? See, I asked nicely. No? Hmmm. I’m confused. It seems that we like giving our
money away. We use money like a drug that we can never be rid of, accrue massive debt, both personally and nationally, and get lost in the sheer size of the number of dollars that we owe. Almost $10 trillion. There are approximately 304 million people in the country who owe the balance of the national debt. With the recent bailouts of financial institutions Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the national debt increased, almost unheralded, by about $4 trillion the biggest increase under any
president. The nice thing about debt is that it can always get bigger. So we do not have the money to spend and owe more money than can be repaid, yet we continue business as normal. The budget is negatively balanced – I like that term – and everyone is happy. Did you get a raise at work? I also noticed that no one picks up pennies from the street anymore. Next to the national debt, my personal debt seems almost insignificant. What is interest-
ing, however, is that were I to encounter some temporary financial difficulties and not be able to pay my bills, no one would offer me a bailout package. No one comes to my house and announces that they will take my personal debt and just add it to the national debt. After all, my debt is so small it would pass unnoticed. Instead, I will receive an offer in the mail. A new credit card with a higher balance so that I can pay off my existing debts and have an overall lower monthly payment. Jackpot!
Movie Review
‘Lucky’ characters create dynamic relationship It would be easy for a film happens. There’s a storyline – about three soldiers recently that whole cross-country thing returned from Iraq to take an but it’s more a view of what it’s ugly turn for the tragic, with like to re-enter the world after hideous scenes of 18 months in cirnightmare explocumstances that sions and buddies pretty much with their heads nobody underblown off. stands in the least. Instead, “The McAdams, as Lucky Ones” is usual, is awesome. very much a charLook back at her acter-based story. If resume over the “talking” movies last four years are not your thing, (“The Notebook,” JEANNA ROSS then steer clear. “Mean Girls,” In the film, two AT THE MOVIES “The Wedding soldiers are on 30Crashers”) and she day leaves. Another hasn’t made a is finished with his final tour wrong turn yet. Every film she and looking forward to civilian chooses displays her range as an life. Of course, all cannot be actress and she deserves a place sunshine and roses. The three among the new Hollywood royare stranded due to a power out- alty. age at JFK and thus commences Robbins lends this piece his a bizarre road trip across the quiet gravitas as the relationUnited States to fulfill these ship-challenged Cheever. He triple destinies. becomes a surrogate parent to I could sit and watch Colee these two young ’uns, but he is (Rachel McAdams), Cheever able to both police their actions (Tim Robbins) and TK and learn from Colee’s (Michael Peña) for hours with- Pollyanna outlook on life. out becoming bored. The Peña, who was fairly unacdynamic of these three veter- knowledged in Hollywood until ans, each with their own back- 2006’s “World Trade Center,” is grounds, experiences and rea- the stoically miserable TK. He sons for joining up, makes for tackles the role with both comgreat entertainment. passion and a stiff upper lip, Because, really, not much allowing us to empathize with
Photo credit : Matt Dinerstein
Michael Peña (as TK, left), Rachel McAdams (as Colee) and Tim Robbins (as Cheaver) in THE LUCKY ONES.
his plight. When he tells us that his gift is “leadership,” we believe him. The film is formulaic. It’s the typical buddy road-trip with the tomboy tossed in for good measure (and to fantastic effect.) The three of them are the heart of this film, keeping it afloat. I could watch them water plants, and it would still be sweet, endearing and heartwarming. The relationships are warm and sustainable. We direly wish that sometime in our lives, we too would have such awesome people to care about us (and to
fight with us, because that is what friends do). There are laughs, shocks, even a few tears. But be aware this isn’t a film about Iraq. These charming characters could be anyone coming from anywhere, any time. The war is just a device. They’re people you want to know – go meet them. Jeanna Ross is an English teacher at Clayton Valley High School and a free lance writer. She regularly contributes to the Pioneer. Send comments to her at movies@claytonpioneer.com.
Theatre Review
Zany political farce just right for the time JEANNA ROSS Clayton Pioneer
The Willows Theatre Company opened its first play of the 2008-2009 season this week with “Lying in State,” a timely farce for this political landscape. The basic plot concerns a dead senator and the question of his successor, but in true farcical nature, there is much door slamming, misunderstanding, and chaos. While the entire cast is noteworthy for their likeable portrayals, the accolades for “Lying in State” definitely belong to the women. Deborah Del Mastro plays
Edna, ex-wife of the deceased senator, Ed. It is Del Mastro’s steady influence that keeps the story grounded, as the zaniness boils around her. Her facial expressions alone get some of the biggest laughs of the night. Cynthia Rogers Baggott as Margo and Yvonne Campbell as Buttons duke it out for top comedic laughs with their hilariously overblown caricatures. In the hands of lesser actresses, these women would earn merely rolled eyes, but their hysterics pull chuckles from even the most cynical audience. Margo’s constant repetitions of how surprised she is to come into contact with a real-life political figure
serve to remind us how rarely we actually encounter our own leaders in any medium other than our television, while Buttons’s encounters with nearly every male seen (or heard) onstage are a vivid picture of how much our leaders have (or try) to hide. “Lying in State,” written by David C. Hyer in 2003, has an obvious agenda to point out the idiocies of our current governmental process and our obvious fascination, as November draws ever nearer, makes us willing par-
ticipants. Occasionally, the witty banter does take over the focus of the plot, but the pace is quick and the discussion lively. The author spent 40 years working in government before his retirement and newfound playwriting career, so the words couldn’t come from a more genuine place. “Lying in State” runs until November 2nd at the Willows Theatre in Concord. For tickets, visit willowstheatre.org or call (925) 7981300.
When I accept, I now have all my debt in one convenient place, at an affordable and convenient monthly payment and all those other credit cards now with a zero balance. My credit report looks great. And I finally can afford that giant television and Disney cruise that my wife had been pushing. Now that I think about it, I have my own version of the national debt. Each time I encounter a rough patch, a very nice credit agency will offer a bailout in the form of a consolidation loan at a lower interest
rate spread out over an everincreasing term. I will get to a point where one of these will be a consolidation loan flipped into a reverse mortgage, freeing up my credit while removing my house payment. And the joy of it is that I will never have to repay it because I will not live long enough. Unless I can finance the afterlife. When that time comes, I guess I can deal with it. André Gensburger is a staff reporter and feature writer for the Pioneer. His email address is andre@claytonpioneer.com
Weather balloon essential even today Meteorologists have been constructing weather maps for well over a century. The earliest maps consisted of surface observations, but once air travel became popular, a need to map the upper atmosphere arose. The problem was how to measure and record weather observations above the ground. In the 1920s, scientists began to use balloon-borne instrument packages with radio transmitters to relay upper air temperature, relative humidity and pressure measurements to a ground station. These measurement systems were called radiosondes (sonde is an old English word for messenger). Ground-based tracking of the ascent path of the balloon, using a device called a theodolite, allowed for calculation of wind speed and wind direction as the balloon ascended. During the mid-1930s, the U.S. Weather Bureau established a network of radiosonde launch sites. Radiosonde observation balloons (commonly called RAOBS) quickly emerged as the data backbone for upper air maps used by commercial and military flight planners. It soon became convention to release the RAOBS twice per day. Today, there are 70 RAOB stations in the United States and more than 300 worldwide. The closest launch site to Clayton is at the Oakland Airport. All RAOBs are launched at the same time, 00 GMT and 12 GMT, every day. GMT is Greenwich Mean Time, seven hours ahead of PDT, meaning that the launch times at Oakland are at 5 a.m. and 5 p.m., PDT. A modern RAOB system consists of an instrument package, radio receiver, tracking unit, recorder and parachute. All the monitoring and tracking equipment is housed inside a durable white plastic box. The balloon that carries the package skyward is inflated to a diameter of about 6 feet at the time of launch. By the time the RAOB reaches an altitude of
WOODY WHITLATCH WEATHER WORDS approximately 25 miles, the balloon expands to a diameter of 30 feet, then bursts. After the balloon bursts, the parachuted three-pound box descends slowly back to earth. Return mailing instructions are printed on the box. RAOBs that are found and returned can be refurbished for subsequent flights. ROAB data proved invaluable for creating jet stream maps that the aircraft industry must have to ensure safe and efficient operations. With the advent of computer forecast models, RAOB measurements also began to be used as the primary initialization database for each model run. Today, all RAOB data from throughout the world is transmitted to a super computer, quality checked, then sent to the modeling centers. The accuracy of today’s forecast models is in a large part due to the high quality initialization database provided by RAOBs. The next time you take a late afternoon flight out of Oakland Airport, look out your window. If a large red object floating skyward is observed in the distance, rest assured that it is not an alien spaceship – but a weather balloon. Attached to that balloon is a RAOB, one of the most important tools that meteorologists have for measuring weather conditions in the sky. Woody Whitlatch is a meteorologist with PG&E. Email your questions or comments to clayton_909@yahoo.com
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Having a tailored financial plan is the first step toward living the life you’ve always wanted–before and after retirement. And it all begins with our unique Dream > Plan > Track >® approach to financial planning. Working with you one-to-one, I’ll help you define your dream, develop your plan and track your progress over time. It’s a long-term relationship, designed around your dreams. To start a conversation, call (925) 685-4523. Mureleen Benton, CFP®, Financial Advisor 5356 Clayton Rd., Suite 211 Concord, CA 94521 (925) 685-4523 Mureleen.M.Benton@ampf.com CA License #0692378 Ameriprise Financial cannot guarantee future financial results. Financial planning services and investments available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., Member FINRA and SIPC. © 2008 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.
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October 10, 2008
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page 19
Clayton woman still looking for answers in father’s death Longshoreman died in accident at port HEATHER CARTER Special to the Pioneer
When Denise Blakeney’s father died in an accident at the Port of Oakland, many in the Clayton community mourned with her. Denise has been a resident of Clayton for five years but has been a member of the community since 1991. In her job at Mavericks Sport Club in Concord, she is an inspiration
to all who cross her path. She has motivated hundreds of women throughout her career as an aerobics and Pilates instructor. She shows heartfelt sympathy for members and friends and feels joy when something good happens in a friend’s life. She will offer advice or just listen, as needed. On Aug. 23, however, she was the one seeking comfort. Her father, Delmont Blakeney, and his crew were unloading the last four-ton container when it spun out of control. The container momentarily
pinned Delmont against the ship, shattering his leg before he was thrown 60 feet into the water. Delmont held onto his life and waded in the dark, cold, choppy bay water for more than 30 minutes. After 38 minutes, workers pulled him out of the water. They administered CPR, but it was too late. When paramedics arrived, they pronounced him dead. He died three days after turning 77. Delmont started working as a longshoreman 45 years ago at the San Francisco port. He worked his way up and was
Social Web: the next generation MARK FREEMAN
ON
THE
NET
Have you ever found a news story or funny video worth sharing? It’s never been easier to spread the word. Sharing Web content isn’t new. People have been sending each other links since the dawn of email. But these Websites keep track of everything you share, from that delicious chicken recipe you found to the catchy dance video you showed your co-workers. As a bonus, these sites encourage you to share with the entire world by voting for up and coming stories, blog entries, etc. Stories with the most votes end up on the front page, meaning millions of viewers can benefit from what you’ve discovered online. Digg.com is the most popular Web-sharing portal. Here, people submit intriguing links, and the community votes on what they like. Although Digg caters toward technology news, you can find links to sports, entertainment and offbeat stories. Digg users also share images and video. You can customize the Website to only display stories you’re interested in. For instance, I told Digg to show baseball stories but hide soccer ones. After setting your preferences, you can start submitting stories to Digg or voting for others. When submitting a story, you will need to provide the Web address and a short, catchy description if you want others to vote for it. Blog posts are often highly ranked. While searching Digg, I found posts about “Batman” movie villains, the San
Francisco Giants turning a triple play and futuristic automated highways. Digg keeps track of what you’ve posted and how you’ve voted. Positive votes are called “diggs,” while negative votes “bury” a story. A story that is buried will not be shown on the front page. Unfortunately, Digg only sorts your stories by date, not by topic. Thus, if you’ve “Dugg” hundreds of stories, it may be difficult to keep track of them all. Delicious.com offers a more organized alternative to Digg. Delicious is an easy way to catalog and access your favorite Websites from any computer. In addition to submitting links directly, you can download a special bookmarks tool that will appear in your browser. The bookmarks tool creates three buttons which allow you to save a Website with one click, view your favorites or take you to the Delicious home page. Delicious’ tag system lets you organize your favorites by category. Say you are searching for hotels near the beach. When you surf the Web and find links you want to save, hit the “Tag” button on your browser. A popup window allows you to assign a tag to the Website, making it easy to find later. Be sure to put commas between tags. Sample tags for beach hotels include “beach, hotels, vacation.” Be sure to spell tags correctly, or you may end up with duplicates. When doing research for this column, I ended up with a tag called “Pioneer” and another spelled “Pionee.” Like Digg, you can also share your favorites with other people on Delicious. This technique, which Delicious calls
“social bookmarking,” allows other people to benefit from what you find. When I searched for “California Beach hotels,” I found a site saved by 585 other people. For those who like the thrill of discovery, explore StumbleUpon.com. This combines aspects of both Digg and Delicious for a unique Web sharing experience. StumbleUpon lets you discover new Websites based on your interests. After downloading a browser toolbar and setting your preferences, you can begin “stumbling.” Clicking the Stumble button in the toolbar takes you to a random Webpage that you may like. I found Websites that showed me pictures from the Hubble space telescope, a 90second video on Middle East history and a page which told life stories in one sentence. A positive or negative vote for a Website influences the StumbleUpon search. A thumbs up will bring you more similar content and vice versa. You can share your stumbles with your friends, so they can discover your favorites, too. The best part about these sites is you can share stories no matter where you go online. Many Websites, from the New York Times to YouTube, have share content options that let you post to Digg, Delicious and others with just one click. These Websites are stitching the Internet together, one story at a time. Mark Freeman is a student at St. Mary’s College in Moraga, studying economics and English. He enjoys creative writing and is a reporter for the school paper. Questions/comments can be sent to mfreeman543@gmail.com.
promoted to walking boss nine years ago. With the promotion came the move to Oakland, where he was in charge of 75 people. His responsibility was to ensure the safety of his crew. At the time of the accident, the port was on notice due to an incident 30 days prior. A worker had fallen 60 feet into the frigid water and his arm was shattered. He was in the water for an hour before he was successfully rescued. Denise and her family are looking into how the system failed the man they loved so much. They do not want any other longshoreman’s family to go through this tragedy. Delmont Joseph Blakeney was laid to rest Sept. 3. There was standing room only at the Beth Eden Baptist Church in Oakland. “He taught me to be strong in the face of adversity, to be proud of my AfricanAmerican heritage and family, to treat others the way I wish to be treated,” Denise recalls,
“to love unconditionally, to ‘do it big’ whenever you throw a party, to be honest, to perse-
DENISE BLAKENEY with a photo of her father, Delmont Blakeney, still has questions about the accident the killed her longshoreman father
Book Review
‘Garden’ grows into a fanciful tale
CYNTHIA GREGORY
FOR
THE
BOOKS
It’s easy to fall under the enchanting charm that Sarah Addison Allen has spun in her debut novel, “Garden Spells.” Set in a small Southern town, “Garden Spells” is peopled by offbeat, quirky characters who work their way under your skin and into your heart. Small town complications and allure are an added bonus, for Bascom, N.C., is a place where social princesses and shady hooligans are not entirely strangers. For those who have never quite outgrown a belief in the mythic power of fairy tales, there is even a mysterious apple tree with a mind of its own, bearing fruit with the power to enchant. Claire Waverly is at once an oddball and endearing heroine. Just one branch in a family tree of irrepressible women, she owns a catering business whose success is based largely upon
heirloom recipes seeded with equal parts love and intuition, whipped up from her enigmatic backyard garden. To most mere mortals, flowers are something pretty to look at, but wise women through the ages have recognized the subtle power of plants, and Claire is no exception. She blends nasturtium flowers into salads to help her clients keep secret truths secret. Snapdragons deflect the unwanted advances of wouldbe lovers, and roses provoke feelings of kindness and hope. But of course, Claire is not perfect. Abandoned by her feckless mother at a tender age and left to be raised with her sister by grandmother, she is afraid to let love in. Her younger sister, Sydney, who apparently inherited their mother’s wild personality, ran off years ago and Claire has settled peacefully into the bosom of Bascom. But even as an upright member of the community, Claire is considered a bit of an oddball in town. Her eccentricities are overlooked, however, because her recipes are so delicious and the spells she weaves with her mystical herbs never fail to produce the desired results – from love potions to truth serums. But even in serene Bascom, peace is illusive. At about the same that that Sydney appears with her young daughter Bay, a handsome stranger moves in next door. Sydney never wanted
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to return to Bascom, but it is the only place she can think of where her cruelly abusive and possessive husband in Seattle won’t hunt her down. Dotty distant cousin Evanelle watches over the girls in her own peculiar way, often bringing strange gifts whose use is nearly always prophetic: lighters, candy, sweaters. Tyler Hughes, the handsome art professor next door, is smitten with Claire and despite her magical and downright mortal efforts to discourage his amorous interest, he will not be budged. With reckless, damaged Sydney and her sweet daughter to care for, Evanelle to keep tabs on and Tyler Hughes to fend off, Claire finds her life becoming complicated. She’s always just wanted a simple, predictable life to navigate in her sleepy hometown. But what happens to a shutdown heart when it cracks open a little to let love enter? Magic gets in, that’s what.
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
October 10, 2008
Clayton Community Calendar PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR CLAYTON COMMUNITY CALENDAR EVENTS BY 5 P.M. OCT. 15 FOR THE OCT. 24 ISSUE. FAX TO 672-6580 OR E-MAIL calendar@claytonpioneer.com EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT OCT. 10 - NOV 2 THE WILLOWS THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS LYING IN STATE BY DAVID C. HYER Political comedy about the campaign to re-elect a senator, even though he just died. Playing At Willows Theatre, 1975 Diamond Blvd. (Willows Shopping Center), Concord. Tickets: $30-40 with discounts for Seniors, Students, and Groups. For info: (925) 798-1300 or www.willowstheatre.org. OCT. 10 - NOV. 9 “I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE” A musical comedy about the dating-mating-marriage game. Playing at the Willows Cabaret at the Campbell Theatre, 636 Ward St , Martinez. Tickets $20-30. contact (925) 798-1300 or www.willowstheatre.org. OCT. 10, 11 CALIFORNIA SHAKESPEARE THEATER; “A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM” All performances presented at the intimate Bruns Amphitheater, 100 Gateway Blvd. in Orinda. For more details visit www.CalShakes.org OCT. 10 - 15 “REVISIT THE 1950’S” AT SHADELANDS RANCH MUSEUM, 1- 4 p.m. Sponsored by Walnut Creek Historical Society featuring local landmarks on display from the 50’s, along with period clothing, photographs and other memorabilia. CONTACT SHADELANDS RANCH MUSEUM (925) 935-7871. OCT. 12 TRAILS CHALLENGE AUTUMN FOOTHILLS 8a.m.-2p.m. Challenging 7-mile hike through evergreen forests, under stunning rock outcrops, stroll along shaded Pine Creek. (12+yrs) Registration required: (888) 327-2757 OCT. 14 HUNTER’S MOON HIKE 5-8 p.m. Hunters traditionally sought autumn prey by moonlight. See signs of prey and predators and discuss folklore along a ridge top. Steep rugged 2-mile hike. (12+yrs) Registration Required: (888) 327-2757 OCT. 17 - NOV. 9 DIABLO VALLEY COLLEGE DEPARTMENT OF DRAMA ’08 -’09 SEASON “Frankenstein” by R.N. Sandberg. Season Ticket pricing :$40 for students, $50 for seniors, and $60 general public. For tickets, call (925) 687-4445 or place online order thru mfulk@dvc.edu OCT. 18 OKTOBERFEST 2008 CONCORD 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. in Todos Santos Plaza, Concord. Featuring live music, food, arts and craft vendors and farmer's market along with games for all ages. Contact VirginiaThomas at vthomas@snbank.com for info. THROUGH OCTOBER CLAYTON FARMERS MARKET, DOWNTOWN CLAYTON 9 a.m. - 1p.m. Every Saturday. The Clayton Farmers Market, by Pacific Coast Farmers Market Association. Brings the very best of California-grown fruits, vegetables, greens, and nuts to downtown Clayton. Located on Diablo St
CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS OCT. 10 THRU DEC. 4 STORY TIME FOR 3 - 5 YEAR OLDS. 11 a.m. Picture Book Time - Child may attend without caregiver. Drop in for stories, songs and fun. at the Clayton Community Library OCT. 10, THRU DEC. 9 PATTY CAKES STORY TIME FOR BABIES TO 3 YR OLDS 11 a.m. Every Tuesday - Child attends with caregiver. Drop in for stories, songs, and fun at the Clayton Community Library OCT. 11, 25 NATIONAL SCRABBLE ASSOCIATION (NSA) CLUB # 632 11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Members meet at Carl's Jr., 1530 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton. All ages and skill levels welcome. $2 Fee for each whole day or session. Contact Mike Treshler,Director, cell tel (925) 639-1987, and the NSA web site www.scrabble-assoc.com OCT. 12, 14 CLAYTON COMMUNITY LIBRARY TEEN READ INS TO "TAKE A BITE OUT OF FINES" 2-4 p.m. Oct. 12, and 4-5:30 p.m. Oct. 14. Teens in Grade 6-12 are encouraged to return all overdue materials so fines can be waived. A Library card or valid ID are required to participate. Contact Judy Matthews for information. at jmatthews@ccclib.org
OCT. 13 STROKE SUPPORT GROUP OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 7 - 9 p.m. Ball Auditorium at John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek Campus, 1601 Ygnacio Valley Rd. Steve Molinari, OTR, addresses stroke survivors and caregivers on Driving Assessment Program, JMMC, and Outpatient Rehab. Contact Ann Dzuna at (925) 376-6218. Open to public.
OCT. 19 STAND! AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 3 - 6 p.m. A day of healing prayer, music, ritual and community at the Concord Senior Center for anyone who has been affected by domestic violence in the community, school, or home. For information, Email jenniferjs@standagainstdv.org. or call (925) 603-0103.
OCT. 13 YGNACIO VALLEY REPUBLICAN WOMEN MIXER 5:30 - 8 p.m. Fall Membership Mixer at Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant, 611 Gregory Ln., Pleasant Hill. Featured speaker is Larry Greenfield of the Republican Jewish Coalition. Tickets are $25. For reservations contact Barbara Allen at (925) 672-5061 or jngcabot@pacbell.net
OCT. 19 OPEN HOUSE AT HAZEL-ATLAS MINE 12 - 4:30 p.m. Explore the cool underground workings of the Hazel-Atlas silica sand mine. Free self-guided tours for all participants. Walk through over 800 feet of this 1930s era mine. (7+yrs) (Special Event)
OCT. 13 CONTRA COSTA BLUE STAR MOMS CA CH #20 6:30 p.m. Social/Support Meeting. Blue Star Moms have children in the military. For more information go to bwilliams@ccbluestarmoms.org or call Becky at (925) 286-1728. OCT. 14, 28 ODD FELLOW'S MEETING @ PACHECO LODGE #117, CONCORD 3 p.m. Meets every 2nd and 4th Tues. of the month. Pacheco Lodge #117, 4349 Cowell, Concord. Call Herb Meeks at (925) 682-7358. OCT. 16 REBEKAH’S, MT. DIABLO LODGE # 228 8 p.m. Meetings held 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month.at 4349 Cowell Rd., Concord. For information call Carmen Frank (925) 672-5045. OCT. 16, 23, 30 CONTRA COSTA CHESS CLUB 7:30 - 10:30 p.m. Meets at Starbuck's, 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton. All ages and skill levels welcome. No fee for fun tournaments and/or exhibitions. Contact Mike Treshler, tel (925) 639-1987 or www.uschess.org. OCT. 17, NOV. 6 DIAMOND TERRACE RETIREMENT HOSTS COMMUNITY MEETINGS 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Oct. 17. Flu and Pneumonia Shot Clinic open to the public. Shots are free with Medicare, Part B or Aetna. If no Medicare, the charge is $30 for flu shot and $45 for pneumonia shot. Refreshments provided. Call for appointment. 7 - 8 p.m., Nov. 6, Free seminar to discuss Veteran's Benefits for veterans and surviving spouses. Learn how Tax-Free Long-Term Care Pension can help pay your Assisted Living or In-Home Care costs as well as surviving spouse benefits. Learn key questions to ask when selecting a Home Care Provider. Reservations recommended. Refreshments will be served. Diamond Terrace, 6401 Center St., Clayton. Reservations: (925) 524-5100. OCT. 18 MT. DIABLO TRAIL RIDE FUND RAISER TO REBUILD DESTROYED HAY BARN 7:30 a.m.Registration, 8:30-10 a.m. Trail Ride beings at trailhead outside Clayton, followed by BBQ Lunch. Enjoy for BBQ Lunch/games after ride or hike. Reservations required if camping overnight (925-672-3733) sponsored by Concord Mt. Diablo Trail Ride Assoc. OCT. 18 DOGS4DIABETICS GRADUATION 2 p.m. Eight dog/handler teams graduate at Walnut Creek Christian Academy, 2336 Buena Vista Ave., Walnut Creek. OCT. 18 CONCORD/DIABLO ROTARY'S 10TH ANNUAL RAUCOUS BACCHUS FUNDRAISER WITH COMEDIAN WILL DURST @ CENTRE CONCORD 5 p.m. Enjoy popular comedian and political satirist Will Durst, karaoke and dancing. This is a timely show not-to-be-missed. Purchase tickets on-line at www.cdrotary.org for $75. Proceeds support Rotary projects including LN-4 Prosthetic Hand Project, local high school Interact Clubs, Cambridge Community Center, and the Bay Area Crisis Nursery.
OCT 20 - NOV 19 CLAYTON READS, “WHEN THE EMPEROR WAS DIVINE” BY JULIE Otsuka. Pick up free copy of the book at Clayton Community Library, while supply lasts. Read and pass the book on to another reader or return to the Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Rd., Clayton. (925) 673-0659 OCT 29 CLAYTON READS PROGRAM: GEISHA: BEYOND THE PAINTED SMILE. 7 p.m. Jo Anne Erickson, of Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. presents a Slide show with history and present day Japanese Geisha. Clayton Community Library,6125 Clayton Rd., Clayton. (925) 673-0659 OCT. 21 6:30 P.M. - DIABLO VALLEY MACINTOSH USERS GROUP (DVMUG) General meetings held 3rd Tuesday of the month. Open to public and Free. Held at Bancroft Elementary School, 2700 Parish Dr., Walnut Creek. Contact: Tom at 689-1155. Details found at http://www.dvmug.org. OCT. 22 DIABLO VALLEY DEMOCRATIC CLUB MEETING 7 p.m. The League of Women Voters to give its respected Pros and Cons presentation. at the Democratic Campaign headquarters, 1501A, N. California Blvd., Walnut Creek. .Info: 925-335-2647 or www.dvdems.org OCT 22 LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY: ROAD TO DISCOVERY: EMERGING THERAPIES IN BLOOD CANCERS 6 - 8 p.m (Pre-registration required) Caregivers and patients invited to hear Robert Robles, M. D. with Diablo Valley Oncology and Hematology Assoc. A review of advances in blood cancer treatment, and how to talk with your doctor about clinical trials as possible treatment option. John Muir Medical Center, 1601 Ygnacio Valley Rd., Walnut Creek. To register call (415) 6251129 or email marlene.mccleary@lls.org. A light dinner will be served. OCT. 25 CHAPARRAL SPRING HIKE (SAVE MOUNT DIABLO- SMD) 9 a.m - 12 p.m. Meet at MP 14: Three Springs Entry, 10030 Marsh Creek Rd. 2.2 miles east of Regency Dr. in Clayton. Moderate hike, heavy rain cancels. RSVP to S M D at 925 947-3535 or smdinfo@savemountdiablo.org OCT. 30 HARVEST TIME CRAFT AND STORIES - AGES 3-7 11-11:45 a.m. (Register by Oct 29) Children to be accompanied by caregiver during story/craft time. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Rd. 673-0659 OCT. 30 4:30 - 6:30 P.M. TERRAPIN SWIM TEAM’S ANNUAL HALLOWEEN PARTY AND CANNED FOOD DRIVE The 12th annual benefit for Contract Costa Solano Food Bank. features Carnival games, costume contest with prizes. $2 Entry and canned food gets participants game tickets for all games. Donations of cash, canned food and candy are welcome. Contact Terrapins at 925-680-8372 ext. 206.
BUSINESS & GOVERNMENT OCT 14, 21, 28 County Board of Supervisors @ County Administration Building 9:30 a.m. Tuesday mornings. www.co.contra-costa.ca.us or 335-1900. County Administration Building, 651 Pine St., Room 107, Martinez.
OCT. 18 WEBELOS GEOLOGY @ #19218 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Youth & Family) Earn your geology badge as we hike through a park where the rocks rule! (7+yrs) Fee: $3 Registration Required: (888) 327-2757.
OCT. 14, 28 Clayton Planning Commission @ Clayton Community Library 7 p.m. The commission meets the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. www.ci.clayton.ca.us or call (925) 673-7304. Clayton Library Meeting Room, 6125 Clayton Road.
OCT. 18 ROSE HILL REQUIEM 1 - 3 p.m. Visit quiet hillside cemetery to recall boom days of Mount Diablo Coalfield. Meet at the cemetery.
OCT. 21 Clayton City Council @ Clayton Community Library 6 p.m. The council meets the first and third Tuesday of the month. Agendas posted at city Hall, 6000 Heritage Trail. Clayton Community Library Meeting Room, 6125 Clayton Road.
Clayton Community Recreation The YMCA is offering a variety of summer camps at the Clayton Community Gym. For registration information, visit mdrymca.org or call 8891600. SPECIALTY CAMPS Babysitter Training: This class teaches babysitting skills including feeding, diapering, playing with and caring for children. Participants also learn to respond to emergen-
cies while babysitting. Upon successful completion, participants will receive a YMCA Certificate of Completion. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Oct. 26, Nov. 23, $69/non-residents, $49/Clayton residents. Kids Night Out: Bring the kids down to the Clayton Community Gym for an evening of fun while you have a night out on the town. Children will enjoy crafts, games, movies and dinner while
you are worry-free knowing they are in a safe and friendly environment. Dinner and snacks are provided. 6 - 10 p.m. Oct.18, Nov. 15, Dec. 20, $25/non-residents, $20/Clayton Residents. SPORTS CAMPS Youth Flag Football: This league will focus on teamwork and sportsmanship while participants learn fundamental football skills, which include passing, catching and play execu-
Is it time to review your form?
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The business entity your company operates under can have a significant effect on the taxes you pay and your costs of doing business. As your business grows or changes, it may be advantageous to switch to another form of operating. Among the main entity choices: sole proprietor, partnership, C or S corporation, and LLC. For guidance in your review, call us. 700 Ygnacio Valley Rd., #360 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 Carol@carolkeanecpa.com (925) 937-5200 (925) 937-5202 fax www.carolkeanecpa.com
tion. Player positions are rotated every game. No special equipment required. YMCA sports emphasize fun, fair play, skill development, teamwork and self-esteem. All participants play at least half of each game for all sports. The games are coached by parent volunteers and are refereed by YMCA staff. 1 – 4 p.m. Sept. 21 – Nov. 19, Sundays, $125/non residents, $100/Clayton residents.
October 10, 2008
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page 21 ors ract Cont ome Welc
Auto shop keys into customer care JEANNA ROSS Clayton Pioneer
Brian Richmond of Diablo Automotive knows how to care for your vehicle. “Basically, the way I run my business is like a doctor. I can tell you what’s going on. I can instruct you and point you in the direction to go, but I can’t make the decisions,” he said. “I try to give customers what they need.” When Richmond graduated from Concord High School in 1997, he knew that college wasn’t for him. “School wasn’t a big thing for me, so I went looking for a trade. I had a friend who was doing it, so I did it with him.” Inspired by his friend’s commitment, Richmond attended the Sequoia Institute in Fremont and, through an apprenticeship program, earned his associate’s degree in business. That completed, he returned home to Concord. “I had a high school friend whose dad owned an automotive repair shop here in town. I spent four years with him, then I worked in another place in Walnut Creek in a partnership situation for another three years,” he said. “Since then, I’ve
been doing it on my own for four years.” Richmond prefers business
do pretty much anything, bumper to bumper, except body work. Interior to exterior, major
Jeanna Ross/Clayton Pioneer
BRIAN RICHMOND OF DIABLO AUTOMOTIVE takes real satisfaction in keeping his customers happy with the business he’s spent four years building.
ownership. “I like being able to control things. There are a lot more options with your time,” he noted. “I put a lot more into it when it’s for me than I would for someone else. It’s more personal. I enjoy helping people, so there’s a personal satisfaction in knowing that I’m involved 100 percent in getting that person back on the road.” Diablo Automotive services nearly any car on the road. “We
to minor stuff. I can fix anything from broken windows and electrical to interior mechanisms,” he said. “I have lines on tires and alignments, but I also do major services like engine and transmission repairs. People think they must go to the dealership with a new car, but it’s all really the same.” Richmond is not limited to autos. He also fixes and services boats and can handle welding
and light fabrication as well. Richmond loves his Concord roots. “In this community, people are so easygoing and I’ve done most of my business in this area through word-ofmouth.” His communication skills help keep business fluid. “Other shops that I see tend to pick the car apart, while I’ll give the customer options. I get new customers who come in with their guns drawn but I sit down and talk to them and make them feel a part of the process, and it tends to go well.” Richmond’s old location, off Concord Avenue, was a hindrance to customer service. “I did quite a bit of pick up and repair, since most of my customers were out here. Now I’m working out of my home and for the two months I’ve been here, I’ve been busier than ever.” Richmond and his wife of eight years, Lacey, live in Concord with their two Huskies, Cloye and Lobo. When business allows them to get away, they take their boat to the Delta for an afternoon of wakeboarding.
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Kind & Loving Care in Home Environment Over 15 Years Experience
Designer brings personal touch to your kitchen
Jeanna Ross/Clayton Pioneer
ANNIE HO BEGAN DESIGNING ing Tip Top Kitchens.
KITCHENS
JEANNA ROSS Clayton Pioneer
If you’re tired of the impersonal service and unreliable installation of the chain homeimprovement stores, make your next kitchen remodel or reface a personal affair with Tip Top Kitchen & Bath of Concord. Owner Annie Ho has a lifetime of design experience. “I have always done jewelry and garment design. I started designing kitchens to fix up and sell my own homes,” she said. Annie knows how to out-sell the discount retailers like Home Depot and Lowe’s because she used to work for Home Base. “Within two years, I was the No. 1 salesperson in the nation,” she noted. “When they closed down, I started my own business.” That was eight years ago. Since then, she has acquired two colleagues and built a solid business on referrals – nearly 90 percent. “We have designers who specialize in space planning, coloring, and lighting – everything to help the con-
in her own homes before start-
sumer, including matching cabinets, flooring and countertops to the best effect.” Annie and her staff are incredibly hands-on. “Whether it’s a do-it-yourself job or with a contractor, we go to the job site to see how it’s working out, and we can work with the contractors to fix any problems right away,” she said. “The timeframe is very quick. A completed job takes anywhere from three to six weeks, guaranteed.”
That means there is still time to have Tip Top Kitchen and Bath remodel your home before the holiday season. To Annie, functionality and design go hand-in-hand. “We are very precise and detailed with the homeowners regarding the installation of their kitchen or bath. The idea is to spend more time and experience, therefore less money to create the look of a multi-million-dollar home.” The initial conference can take several hours, depending on the preparation of the client. But within hours, the designers can have a 3-D rendering on the computer so the client can get a feel for the completed space. With that, the pricing is complete and it can take one to three weeks for the materials to arrive. In the meantime, the contractor begins the construction process, so the cabinets can be installed the minute they arrive on site. The homeowner does not need to take time off to receive the material, but they can stay updated on the process with bi-weekly morning meetings with the contractor. To stay in contact with the teams and accommodate clients, Annie works six days a week, Monday through Saturday, including evenings. Despite the killer schedule, she still makes time for socializing, the gym and her family. Annie was born in Burma to Chinese parents before moving to Australia. She completed her design training at the Sydney Institute before joining her family in San Francisco. There, she switched from textile design to home decor.
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Page 22
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
– s r o l o C I P O w Ne lection
October 10, 2008
Fall to-do list is laden with trees
l o C e c n a r F The
Tree installation should be full sun. These summer at the top of your fall planting bloomers come in many list. Cooling weather and even- shades to appeal to everyone. tual winter rains makes Depending on the variety, a autumn a great crape myrtle can time to install reach 8-20 feet trees for vertical tall, so choose interest, shade or wisely. beauty supply & salon privacy. Sold as stanTree choices dard tree shape Two doors down from Donna’s Quilting Loft in Clayton Station can be tricky. or multi-trunk, 5439 A Clayton Road, Clayton Open 7 days Know your crapes always 925-672-0405 desires when satisfy. Fall color asking for is another advice. Are you reward for a attracted to fall crape myrtle in color, or spring reds, oranges or NICOLE HACKETT or summer flowgold. Crapes can GARDEN GIRL tolerate moderers? Are you OK with a tree that ate water, so you loses its leaves can plant with or would you rather install an your roses or incorporate into evergreen? What mature shape your dry-scape. would you like to see? Any way Chitalpa trees are amazing. to narrow down your choices They are deciduous, longwill make the decision process blooming trees that are sure to easier. please. Chitalpa trees bloom The Clayton Valley is great trumpet-shaped flowers of for growing several trees. pink or white nearly all sumConsider your planting loca- mer long. They provide daptions in relation to your home pled shade, with sparse, lanceHappy Hour, weekdays 4 to 7 p.m. and your neighbors, retaining shaped leaves. walls and walkways, other Trees will reach 15-20 feet Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer landscape and water needs. tall. Install this winner on a 4:30 - 6 p.m. CRAPE MYRTLE Then you can see what is out slope or hillside for fast-growthere. ing vertical interest. Looking and a fantastic dinner menu too! Vertical interest trees are up into the trunk system of as wide. Photinia Frasier is an will give you a jumpstart when planted for show. They are this tree is striking and worthy evergreen with a fragrant spring hits. The Raywood 459-0574 great in large to medium yards, of an up-light. A chitalpa can bloom and brightly colored Ash is an easy to find, excel4633 Clayton Road on the flat of the yard or on a tolerate moderate water, but new growth. The photinia is lent shade tree for the Clayton extremely versatile, accepting Valley. This ash is fast-growing www.ajsportspub.com slope or hill. Crape Myrtles prefers occasional water. are installed for vertical interArbutus is available for anywhere from moderate and tolerant of several differCrapes are fast-growing, gardeners who need an ever- water to eventually infrequent ent growing conditions. It will every Thurs & Fri 9:30 pm to 1 am est. thrive within a lawn or in a deciduous trees that thrive in green tree for vertical interest. water. With this small mature dry-scape. Dark green, oval leaves line shape, installing near a fence is Ash will need maintenance knobby red bark. This tree hardly a worry. The root sysevery couple of years to make looks fabulous on a hillside or * tem isn’t aggressive, and there sure it does not overgrow. as a focal point for vertical will be little mess for the other Prepare for your ash to reach interest. It also will provide Age Defying Night Cream side of the fence. 20-30 feet tall and wide. That privacy above a fence between Bay laurel is another great is quite a tree and should be homes. The Cosmetic e v e r g r e e n respected when planted. Arbutus will Now sold at s u g g e s t i o n Weeping Chinese Elms Alternative to Botox® tolerate occasionBEAUTIQUE for a privacy are a safe tree to install for al water while it beauty supply & salon s i t u a t i o n . canopy shade. If you want to becomes estabin the Clayton Station or visit our web site This pyrasit under a tree, this is a good lished, then only m i d - s h a p e d choice. The long stems fall needs infrequent RosebudNightCream.com tree can from the branches, lined with watering. Arbutus 925-672-0405 reach 12-18 serrated leaves. Young elms has a simple feet tall and have the tendency to be top white flower. Made in the U.S.A. about half as heavy, so tether staking is necPrivacy is a wide. The essary. common reason *Redeem only at Beautique beauty supply & salon, leaves are Rhus is another great people look to 5439 A Clayton Rd., Clayton. expires Oct. 31, 2008 fragrant, and canopy tree for surrounding install trees. the flowers shade. This evergreen is fabuWhen neighbors are simple. lous. This tree is tolerant of have direct shots Plant the lauoccasional to infrequent waterinto your back rel in full to ing and looks good with severyard, planting a BAY LAUREL LEAF part sun. It’ll al different landscapes. Rhus tree to block the tolerate modwill reach 20-25 feet tall and line of sight is erate to occasional water. The eventually as wide. appealing. Trees grow, so makNow is the time to install ing the right choice for fence dark green leaf hold up to all the heat and this tree is defiyour trees. If you put it off all lines is important. Resist the nitely resilient. summer long, tackle it today. urge to use redwood or cedar Space the trees along a Make you choices, prep your trees to give yourself privacy; fence line to block the winsoil and get planting. there are more responsible dows that you can see. A good choices. Nicole is the Garden Girl at Photinia Frasier is an rule to remember is that if you R&M Pool, Patio, Gifts and can see them, they can see you. 5354 Clayton Road excellent small-growing tree. Garden Contact her with questions, Shade is a wonderful enjoywire service When installed in the standard Place online orders at www.sonsetflowers.com specialists Open Mon. - Fri. comments or suggestions at ment during the summer. tree shape, the photinia can phone (925) 685-8200 8:30 am 5:30 pm major credit gardengirl@claytonpioneer.com Planting shade trees during fall reach 8-12 feet tall and almost toll free 800-603-ROSE (7673) fax (925) 685-0633
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page 23
Venture back in time in historic Coloma PENNY CANNON
TRAVEL NOTES On Jan. 24, 1848, John Marshall picked up a small rock in the foothills above the Sacramento Valley and identified it as gold. With that, the course of this beautiful land we call California was changed forever. If you have not taken the 2½-hour drive to Coloma, the sight of this world-changing discovery, you are missing out. You will find a replica of the old sawmill, the ruins of a stone jail, historic churches, homes and cabins complete with authentic furniture and a world-class museum. Next to the old post office you might see a blacksmith pounding red-hot metal. On Oct. 11-13, the town steps back in time to the 1850s with a recreation of Gold Rush history. Coloma becomes a tent city, complete with women baking bread in outdoor ovens, men panning for gold and historic demonstrations with speakers and tours. The town provides an authentic setting so you can relive the adventure that helped create the worldwide rush to California. Today, the main attraction to this part of California is white water rafting. With state-of-theart rafts, Earth Trek Expeditions made the daylong trip down the middle fork of the American River (a class IV) fun and exciting. We were equipped with life vest, helmets and a great river guide, Nick Wimsett of New Zealand. Earth Trek also has a private campground along the river. It
Photo by John Broski
THE BELLA VISTA B&B in Coloma offers three suites and breathtaking views. includes family-size canvas cabins on wood decks on down to two-person dome tents. The tile-floored restrooms feature hot showers and flush toilets. You can play volleyball, pingpong, and foosball in the recreation area. The campground also has horseshoe pits and a sandy beach. The meals provided by Earth Trek will satisfy any appetite. This is a great place to have a family reunion or hold a company outing. Our long weekend in Coloma included an overnight stay in a beautiful and elegant B&B, the Bella Vista. Owned and operated by Bob and Kathleen Ash, the Bella Vista provides three professionally decorated suites. Each has a private bath, fireplace and outdoor balcony with spectacular views of the picturesque grounds that include water ponds with fountains and a fresh water lagoon complete with a sandy beach, waterfall and hot tub. The panoramic views of the Coloma/Lotus Valley and the American River are also seen from each private balcony.
Club News CLAYTON VALLEY GARDEN CLUB The Club was busy again sprucing up the downtown planter boxes with donated plants including snapdragons, pansies, and cyclamen that provide wonderful color for winter. Volunteers participating were Peggy Arundell, Judy Bates, JoAnn Caspar, Linda Cruz, Nicole and Jonathon Hackett, Kay Lane, Linda Pinder, Shannon Seven, and Ed and Dee Totman. Clayton Valley Garden Club meets at Diamond Terrace the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. Newcomers are always welcome. For more information contact gardengirl94517@yahoo.com
GARDEN CLUB MEMBERS Jonathon and Nicole Hackett, Linda Cruz, Linda Pinder and Shannon Seven (seated).
CLAYTON VALLEY/CONCORD SUNRISE ROTARY CLUB. The Annual Charity Dinner and Auction will be on Sat. Nov. 1, at the Walnut Creek Civic Arts Center. Dinner, libations and auction. Businesses, organization and associations may donate to the event and receive publicity. For reservation forms email rotaryauction@gmail.com . SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL DIABLO VISTA (SIDV) Soroptomist International of Diablo Vista will have a guest speaker for the Oct. 15 lunch meeting at the Sizzler in Concord from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. The speaker for this meeting is Alexis Summerfield. Her experience in travel and as a professional Feng Shui consultant spans over 14 years, working with clients in homes, businesses and large corporations. She has lectured in many forums and has been interviewed on radio and television. She has also written articles for publication. The combination of her studying, traveling and experiencing the movement and healing potential of energy has become the foundation of her expertise as a Feng Shui consultant. Soroptimist is a non-profit service organization for women in business and in the community. Join us for an informative, fun meeting and learn more about how Soroptimism like Feng Shui can enhance your life. For additional information call Gloria Utley at 672-0508.
The photos that Kathleen shared with us made it clear that you do not need to travel to
New England in the fall to experience the reds, golds and oranges of autumn.
Museum, from page 1 look back upon this first year as having ‘laid a solid foundation’ upon which we can build in the future ... a beautiful campus in a beautiful setting; and outstanding faculty ready to guide you ...” Prior to the opening of the school, area students were bussed to Mt. Diablo High School in Concord. Rubiales recalled that many of the students had been in his classes since first grade. “We left a lot of friends behind at Mt. Diablo.” Before the construction of the new school, the area now occupied by the football fields was like a marsh. “It was very swampy,” Rubiales said. “There were a lot of pheasants. My uncle went pheasant hunting there.” Rubiales was in the first graduating year – 1960 – and much of the memorabilia from that period is now on display at the museum. From football pennants to cheerleader outfits, complete with pompoms, yearbooks to a reprint of the first student handbook, the museum serves as a centerpiece for the 50th anniversary reunion, attracting many alumni who come to glimpse the past and sign the guest book before heading on to the many events planned at the school. Rubiales’ son John’s jacket hangs in the museum. REACHING OUT TO PAST GRADS Ted Meriam is also a CVHS grad, class of 2001. After living in Washington state, where he worked for Microsoft, Meriam found himself missing California and the Clayton area in particular and chose to move back. Attending a meeting at Clayton Valley, he was nominated as chair of the reunion events. He set up a Website and started posting reunion information across the Internet for alumni to find. “We had an email blast that went out,” Meriam said, “as well as posting on Classmates.com. We’re getting 1,000 page hits, so it is being seen.” One of the first teachers at Clayton Valley, Ralph Belluomini, is one of Rubiales’ neighbors. “I remember very eager young people,” Belluomini said. “It was an exciting time to learn.” Belluomini also notes that teachers had multiple roles to fill. “Some were coaching football and other sports.” Belluomini remained a teacher at Clayton Valley through 1966. Having gone through the administration program, he transferred to College Park. “But I was back at Clayton Valley for three years as acting principal,” he said. “That was around 1968.” A SCHOOL WITH SPIRIT Former Clayton City Council member Pete Laurence, who graduated CVHS in 1963, recalls a wonderful high school experience. “There was a great school
spirit. Teachers were interested in the kids and the rules were strict, at least by our standards.” Laurence likens the level of academics to that most college students receive today. “Schools just don’t seem to be cranking out the same level.” “I’m disappointed by the lack of respect I see for the facility today,” Rubiales noted, citing the defaced tree in the quad as an example. Laurence is one of the inductees for the Clayton Valley Sports Hall of Fame this year. “I was the first wrestler at Clayton Valley to take the state championship,” he said. “I’m very pleased to get that recognition.” Laurence added that the school had many great athletes and coaches. One such coach, Bill Smith, is also an inductee into the school Hall of Fame
Before going out to dinner, we were treated to an appetizer tray of smoked salmon, different cheeses and fresh fruit. This was served in the sitting room with a variety of local wines. We shared the inn with a couple from Washington state. They come down to this area for business several time each year and always stay at the Bella Vista. A short drive to the other end of town took us the Sierra Nevada House, offering an extensive menu, great food and wonderful service. The one thing that stands out in my mind about the food is the chocolate cake. With a snifter of port, this proved to be the perfect end to our weekend adventures in Coloma.
If You Go The Bella Vista, 581 Cold Spring Road, 530-622-3456, www.bellavistainc.net. Earth Trek Expeditions, 800-229-8735, www.earthtrekexpeditions.com. Sierra Nevada House, 530626-8096, www.sierranevadahouse.com.
Penny Cannon is a published author and lifelong resident of Contra Costa County. Her most recent book, “Senso Oware” chronicles the life of her father and his years as a POW during WWII.
at Oakhurst Country Club. There will also be an alumni football game on campus and a class reunion dinner on campus. “I hope many alumni and parents of alumni will come see the André Gensburger/Clayton Pioneer exhibits,” said This vintage CVHS cheerleader uniform is part of the school’s 50th anniversary exhibit at the museum. Mary Spryer, curator of the and is a 1952 Olympic gold Clayton museum. “They should medal winner for wrestling. He also participate in the many became a coach and teacher at planned activities.” Clayton Valley in 1974, with his The activities don’t end with team winning the state champi- the October events, Meriam onship in 1977. noted. “We also have a spring Included in the anniversary event on April 25 next year.” activities are the Oct. 15 Homecoming Parade in Clayton, Additional information about the the Oct. 17 homecoming foot- exhibit and reunion can be found at ball game at Clayton Valley and www.cvhs50.com or by calling 888the Oct. 18 Sports Hall of Fame 987-6466.
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Page 22
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
October 10, 2008
Where would the world be without M&Ms? Est.1972
LINDA WYNER
FOOD
FOR
THOUGHT
With Halloween right around the corner, our thoughts turn naturally to candy. In my house, that means chocolate candy, and one of our favorites is M&Ms. M&Ms are the trademark candy of the Mars Candy Co. The candy-coated chocolate addresses the issue of how to transport chocolate without it melting. How it came about is interesting. During a trip to Spain around the time of the Spanish Civil War (1930s), Forrest Mars Sr. observed soldiers eating chocolate pellets that were encased in a hard sugary coating. When he returned to the States, he converted his kitchen into a mini-laboratory and he soon developed “M&Ms Plain Chocolate Candies.” A savvy marketer, Mr. Mars contracted with Hershey’s and the U.S. government to supply little cardboard tubes of M&Ms to American GIs serving in World War II. Hershey’s (the company that controlled rationed chocolate) supplied the milk chocolate filling. The candy was soon popular with the public and the characteristic brown pouch replaced the tube by the late 1940s. As part of its creative marketing strategies, the Mars
Candy Co. jumped on the new communications medium – television – as a way to promote M&Ms. The “milk chocolate melts in your mouth, not in your hand” slogan along with caricature figures were heard and seen on many popular shows and sales rapidly increased. The success resulted in a spin-off – candy-coated peanuts – in the 1950s. M&Ms also became part of the U.S. space program. In 1981, they were chosen by the first space shuttle astronauts to be part of their food supply.
A f e w years ago, M&Ms again hit the media when Mike Melvill, who flew the world’s first private piloted space flight in SpaceShipOne, opened a bag to demonstrate the weightlessness of the candy as it floated in the cabin. Their colorful array made for good filming. M&M World opened on the Las Vegas Strip in 1997, followed soon by Orlando and New York locations. Toys and games, collectibles, designer fashion, special candy colors, furniture and more dazzle visitors. In early 1998, M&Ms
declared themselves the “Official Spokescandies for the New Millennium.” Gee, do you think MM (Roman numerals for 2000) had anything to do with that? M&Ms are great “play-withyour-food” snacks. Do you try to count how many of a certain color are in any given bag? Do you eat one color first? The original M&Ms were brown, yellow, orange, red, green and violet. When I first started eating them, they had tan in addition to the dark brown color, not violet.
R e d M&Ms disappeared in 1976 because of a public controversy over a certain red food dye (which Mars says they weren’t using). Public demand for the red-coated candies prompted the company to reintroduce them in 1987. In a nationwide contest in 1995, more than 10 million Americans selected blue M&Ms to be added to the mix. Other colors are produced, principally pastels for Easter and red and green for Christmas. If you’ve ever wondered why M&Ms ships out all-green candies for Valentine’s Day, it’s because
urban folklore claims that the color is an aphrodisiac. (Seems to me color isn’t nearly as important as the fact that it’s chocolate!) In 1995, M&Ms Mini Chocolate Baking Bits were introduced. They make a colorful addition to the baking world. Mega M&Ms came along a couple of years ago for people who enjoy a candy more than 55 percent larger than the original version. This year, Wildly Cherry M&Ms were introduced as a marketing tie-in with the new “Indiana Jones” movie. Mint Crisp M&Ms also made their debut. At the official M&M site, www.mymms.com, you can order specially printed M&Ms and select from lots of different recipes, including this one: M&MS PARTY COOKIES 1 c. packed brown sugar ½ c. sugar 1 c. butter 2 eggs 2 tsp. vanilla 2 ¼ c. flour 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. baking soda 1 ¾ c. M&Ms Chocolate Mini Baking Bits Heat oven to 375. Beat sugars and butter until light and fluffy. Blend in eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt. Mix well. Stir in 1 ¾ c. M&Ms. Drop dough by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet. Press several additional M&Ms into each cookie. Bake for 9-12 minutes or until golden brown. Linda Wyner, a local attorney and foodie, owns Pans on Fire, a gourmet cookware store and cooking school in Pleasanton. Direct your suggestions or questions to lwyner@claytonpioneer.com
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Clayton Market Update provided by George Vujnovich of Better Homes Realty ADDRESS 107 Crow Place 222 Mountaire Circle 5108 Keller Ridge Drive 410 Hummingbird Pl 1206 Bridlewood Court 5031 Keller Ridge Drive 817 Chert Place 208 Condor Way 410 Wawona Ln 918 Diablo Downs Dr 1747 Indian Wells Wy
PRICE $566,000 $725,000 $595,000 $557,000 $830,000 $548,000 $525,000 $517,000 $735,000 $950,000 $516,000
SALE DATE
SF
BED/BATH
9/26/08 9/26/08 9/19/08 9/18/08 9/12/08 9/05/08 9/04/08 9/04/08 9/03/08 8/28/08 8/28/08
1877 2141 1877 2313 2805 1710 1939 1710 3005 2780 1939
3/2.5 4/2.5 3/2.5 4/2.5 4/3.5 3/2.5 3/2.5 3/2.5 4/3 4/3 3/2.5