Dan Ashley speaks out on
‘What Really Matters’ See page 4
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IT’S YOUR PAPER www.claytonpioneer.com
December 5, 2008
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CCC offers plan for downtown church TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
GREGG MANNING
MAYOR’S CORNER
After 22 years – so long, farewell I am starting this column, my last, a little early. I am keeping awake and busy on Nov. 20. But two days ago, I was not feeling well to such a degree that I did not give blood as I was scheduled to and would not have attended the City Council meeting that evening but for the fact it was my last. On Wednesday, I still did not feel well so I told my wife Joan I was going to see the doctor. She asked me if we should go to the emergency room. We arrived at 7:30 a.m. and, for the next 12 hours, I once again learned how lucky we all are to be served by a facility of the quality of John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek. After a number of tests throughout the morning, at 2 p.m., I had an emergency appendectomy. While I did leave about 7:30 p.m., I was unable to attend the Hospice tree lighting and the meeting of the Clayton Community Library Board and I regret missing those important events.
See Mayor, page 18
Hezmalhalch & Associates
CCC’S CONCEPTUAL PLANS for a mixed-use development on their Main Street property include a 500-seat sanctuary, above, left side. Smaller building in the center will be ground floor retail and church offices upstairs and in the back. The larger building on the right is all commercial. The church may consider selling this piece of the plan to help finance the project. The small building at the rear of the parking lot will be for an unstated church use.
One of the familiar sights and sounds of the holiday season are the Salvation Army bell ringers outside supermarkets and departments stores, collecting donations in the distinctive red kettles from compassionate
See Church page 22
Girl Scouts make holiday brighter for foster kids JEANNA ROSS Clayton Pioneer
In honor of National Adoption Month, Clayton-based Girl Scout Troop 31895 joined with area volunteer organiza-
Salvation Army struggles to boost donations during tough economic times ANDRÉ GENSBURGER Clayton Pioneer
Clayton Community Church is moving forward with plans for development of a worship center on their two-acre Main Street parcel. The conceptual plans for the $6-$8 million project were unveiled at a community open house on Nov. 23 and include a sanctuary, offices and 14,000 sq. ft. of commercial space. “We wanted to give this effort our best shot, and these plans far exceed our expectations,” says Shawn Robinson, pastor of CCC. “We believe this is the win-win for our entire community that we have been hoping for.” The project will require an amendment to the Town Center Specific Plan. Assembly halls were removed from the TCSP last year to keep it consistent with the city’s plan for all ground floor retail in the town center. Robinson is hoping that the church’s mixed-use plan will convince the City Council to amend the TCSP to add assembly halls back to the list of permitted uses.
shoppers. This year, however, with economic hard times, many stores have banned the bell ringers entirely, while others have attempted to limit the hours of operation. “Currently we are down
See Salvation, page 20
SALVATION ARMY’S CONCORD CORPS OFFICERS MAJORS CLAY AND PAM GARNER hope the public will be generous with donations to the Army Corps Food Pantry. Donations have been lagging behind need as the falling economy hits hardest at the poor.
What’s Inside Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
tions to give foster children around the Bay Area the holiday season they deserve. It all began with a group project. In order to earn the highest award earned by Junior Girl Scouts, the Bronze Award, the girls had to complete a community service endeavor that took at least 15 hours to plan and execute. “It’s a very prestigious award,” says co-troop leader Christine Mitchell. “Later, they’ll earn Silver as Cadets. The Gold is the equivalent to the Eagle Scout project that the Boy Scouts do.” On Nov. 16, the troop participated in the “To Kids from Kids” project to gather new, unwrapped toys for the holiday season. The toy drive, one of eight projects considered, will benefit Vestia, a non-profit organization that provides serv-
ices and goods to underprivileged families. The troop was linked to Vestia through the Volunteer Center of the East Bay. Toy contributions will be specifically designated for foster children, a focus that serves a special place in the hearts of the troop, as one of the troop families adopted a child from foster care. “We felt like it was the one that would most help the community,” says scout Emily Rabbitt. “It’s near Christmas, so it was the perfect time.” Seven girls earned their Bronze Awards by arranging this program. Before the drive began, these 11-year-olds went door-todoor to ask businesses for donations of toys or cash. “I was surprised by the generosity of the
See Scouts, page 19
Jeanna Ross/Clayton Pioneer
CLAYTON GIRL SCOUTS ORGANIZED A SUCCESSFUL TOY DRIVE as part of their community service requirements. Back: Haylee Roden, Emily Wright, and Emma Hall; front: Monishaa Suresh, Emily Rabbitt, and Casey Mitchell. Seated: Miranda Hansen.
Sweetness and light comes to Pioneer territory It’s no secret that money is tight this year. This is all the more reason to celebrate the holidays close to home with two old-fashioned, free Christmas activities. Help light up Clayton by entering the Clayton Pioneer’s Parade of Lights Home Decorating Contest or spread sweet joy by baking up a batch of your favorite holiday cookies for the Pioneer’s annual Christmas Cookie Contest. The first, second and third place winners in the Home Decorating Contest will each receive a decorative lawn sign and featured photos in the Dec. 19 issue of the Pioneer, along with a
Church News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Community Calendar . . . . . . . . . .21 Deal With It . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Directory of Advertisers . . . . . . . . .5
listing of all the entries. A favorite Christmas tradition has always been to pile the family into the car around Christmastime to “go look at the lights.” Deadline for entering is 5 p.m. on Fri., Dec. 5. Judging will be on Sun., Dec. 7. Judges are Pioneer publisher Bob Steiner, Clayton interior designer Alise Lacosse and last year’s Home Decorating Contest winner, Jeffrey Holmes. Entry form is on page 4. Drop if off at the office by the deadline and help us make this year’s Parade of Lights better than ever. COOKIE CONTEST Once again, the Pioneer
Food for Thought . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 From the Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Holiday Shopping Guide . . . . . . .10 Letters to the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Movie Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
invites all the bakers in town – kids, teens or grownups – to enter the annual Christmas Cookie Contest. Sugar, nuts, chews, chocolate, cherries, vanilla, ginger ... mmmmm! Maybe Mom’s favorite recipe or Grandma’s, or something original baked up just for the Pioneer contest . . . Whichever it is, send your entries in by Mon., Dec. 8. Mail to P.O. Box 1246, Clayton CA 94517, or drop off at the office, 6200 Center St., Suite H, in the Village Oaks Building on the parking lot side. Entry form is on page 4. The judging party is on Thurs., Dec. 11, at 6:30 p.m. in the Clayton Library Community
On the Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 School News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Tech Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Room. This is not your ordinary cookie contest. Oh, no! Come to share the cookies, enjoy live music by Clayton’s own Vintage, a carol sing-along and enough sugar to keep you humming right into the new year! And, it’s rumored that Santa will make an appearance. The judging team is headed up once again by Pioneer “Food for Thought” columnist Linda Wyner and will include Officer Shanna DeCoit of the Clayton Police Department, Debra Nork of Cookies by Design in the Clayton Station and Mike Fossan of the Clayton Business and Community Association.
Theatre Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Travel Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 UPCOMING EVENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Weather Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 What Really Matters (NEW) . . . . .4