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May 8, 2009
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Local band proves family values rock at 14th annual Art and Wine MAYOR’S CORNER
TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
City honors Skipolini’s for 35 tasty years
See Mayor, page 19
City gives amnesty to encourage payment of back taxes
Deanna “Dee” Munk, well known and respected member of the Clayton community, died at home suddenly last week of an aortic aneurysm. She was 67. Dee was active on many community fronts, most recently with the CBCA Art and Wine Festival. For eight years, she has supervised the vendor selection and coordination. Her death came just three days before this year’s event. Her membership in the CBCA goes back 12 years. She served on the board of directors for three terms and was currently secretary. Dee was a woman of boundless energy, says close friend, Julie Pierce. “She had multiple interests – all at once, and gave enthusiastic support to everything she did.” Andre Gensburger/Clayton Pioneer
THE CROSSMAN CONNECTION’S TWO FATHERS AND THREE SONS captivated the audience with country favorites at the 2009 Art and Wine Festival. (From left) Andrew Freeman, Butch Crossman, Jeff Crossman, Kevin Crossman and Fred Freeman. ANDRÉ GENSBURGER Clayton Pioneer
The 2009 Art and Wine Festival got off to a slow start last Saturday as a heavy morning rain drenched downtown. “We only sold six beer tickets in three hours,” lamented festival volunteer Cindy Hayden. Event chair, Joe Medrano,
recalls only two other times that Art and Wine was rained on. But, by early afternoon, the storm broke and Main Street began to fill up with what would end up being a decent sized crowd. Despite the weather and the sluggish economy, this year’s festival drew more vendors than last year, Medrano said, and people
were in a buying mood. Food and art sales were brisk and the the mood, if not the sky, was sunny. The small crowd at the entertainment tent began to grow as people grabbed a seat on a bale of hay and settled in to rock out. This is the 14th year for the Art and Wine Festival sponsored by the Clayton Business and Community Association.
FAMILY BAND PERFORMS ON HOME TURF
Of the performers at the festival, one of the unique headliners was the Crossman Connection, a country rock band comprised of two fathers and their sons.
See Art & Wine, page 4
Kimberly Goddard wins Mothers’ Day title for mom in Pioneer’s essay contest
TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
Business owners who have not paid their business license tax to the city of Clayton will be granted amnesty from back taxes and penalties if they pay the tax before November 1. In a 3-2 vote, the Council agreed to amnesty for business owners who have failed to pay the current year’s tax out of of fear getting hit with back taxes and stiff penalties which can double the amount owed. The Business License Tax, levied on anyone conducting business within the city of Clayton, raises about $100,000 a year. The amnesty period would only apply to those businesses that have never paid the tax, and would not be granted to those businesses that are simply late in paying.
She’s strict, but she laughs easily and often. She’s a team mom, the homework cop and the lunch patrol. She scrapbooks and loves the theater. She’s Monika Maytum, 12-yearold Kimberly Goddard’s mom and our 2009 Mothers Day Queen. Kimberly’s essay “My Mom Is Absolutely the Best” was the winning entry in the Clayton Pioneer’s Mothers Day essay contest. “She’s my love,” Monika said when she read Kimberly’s essay. “She’s not often open with her feelings, so this is really special.” The essay actually came about almost on a dare, Monika says. “Kimberly was complaining one day that she was bored, so I pointed to the Pioneer which was sitting on the table and said
See Tax Amnesty, page 8
Dee Munk March 30, 1942 April 29, 2009
JULIE PIERCE
On May 3, 1974, Skip and Bev Ipsen opened Skipolini’s Pizza in downtown Clayton and their award-winning pizza has been a Clayton staple for 35 years. From the beginning, Skip’s has been the place to go for great pizza. We all have our favorites. Steve loves double pepperoni and my favorite is mushrooms, black olives and fresh tomatoes. Now owned by their son, Kent, and his wife Yvette, Skipolini’s has grown to four locations and won many awards for their family-friendly restaurants and fabulous pizza. Skip’s is “going green,” so check out their new Website, SkipolinisPizza.com, where you can sign up to get coupons online. In recognition of their anniversary and their great support of the Clayton community, we declared May 3 Skipolini’s Day in Clayton. Take the family in, order a great pizza and raise a glass to them on this special anniversary.
Obituary
Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
“SHE MAKES THE MONSTERS IN OUR HEAD GO AWAY,” writes Kimberly Goddard of mom Monika Maytum in her Mothers’ Day essay
What’s Inside Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Community Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Deal With It . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Directory of Advertisers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Food for Thought . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 For the Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
‘here’s something for you to do—write an essay about what a great mother I am.’ “I never dreamed she would actually do it,” laughed Monika. “It was a joke.” But, the seed was planted and the essay that grew out of that thought was no joke. In a touching tribute to her mother, Kimberly writes “We are four kids in the family, but when one of us is sick, she makes us feel as if we are the only person on earth.” “If my siblings or I were to have a nightmare she would be there to make sure that the monsters in our heads will go away.” The Maytum-Goddard family lives in Regency Meadows and includes Monika’s husband Colin, Kimberly, Jennifer 15, Anthony 10 and Samuel 7. A yellow lab named Holly greets
Dee was born on March 30, 1942 in Redwood City, California. She grew up on the peninsula and graduated from Carlmont High School in 1960. She went on to study French and French foreign studies at the University of California, Berkeley, from 1960 to 1965. A brilliant woman and a bit quirky, Dee’s talents ranged from artisan quilt making and award winning needlework to determined advocate for the area’s ranchers and farmers as executive director of the Contra Costa Farm Bureau. She was an ardent water conservationist, serving on boards and committees from the regional level to the state. A supporter of the Friends of Mt. Diablo Creek, Dee worked on the watershed mapping project in 2005. “She was smart,” says Julie. “Oh, so smart—and very wise.” And she was passionate about her sports teams – the Giants, the ‘Niners and all the Cal Bears teams. “On our first date, I took her to a Raiders playoff game,” Ron recalls. “Then, the next
See Mom, page 16
See Munk, page 4
From the Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Home and Garden Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Movie Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 On the Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 School News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Upcoming Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Weather Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19