www.claytonpioneer.com
May 22, 2009
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New leadership, new programs come to the Clayton YMCA JULIE PIERCE
MAYOR’S CORNER
See Mayor, page 14
City needs to cut landscape water 45 percent TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
Time to tell state to halt cash grab As the deadlines approach for every issue of the Pioneer, I struggle with what to include in this column. I thank all of you who have said you enjoy it and learn something from it. I try to keep it somewhat light, positive and informative, but this week it may have to be just informative with a couple local rays of sunshine at the end. You have no doubt heard that the state of California is in a severe budget crisis. As I write this, it’s five days before the special election and it looks like voters will reject most if not all of Sacramento’s proposals. In anticipation of that, and in acknowledgment of at least a doubling of the projected deficit, the governor has already proposed that the state “borrow” more money from the cities. You will remember that you helped pass Prop. 1A in 2004, saying that if the state borrows from the cities in a time of financial crisis, the “loan” must be repaid within three years with interest. I’m betting they ignore Prop. 1A and simply “steal” the money again – and tell the cities and counties to find their own money somewhere else.
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on weekends. “We get to go to a S.F. Giants game and then have dinner and arcade games at the Metreon,” Beck noted. Other trips include Great America, Day at the Bay, Alcatraz and a concert at the Sleep Train Pavilion in Concord. The day camps and teen trips start June 24. The Y has already
Starting May 1, the city must cut its landscape water use by 45 percent to comply with Contra Costa Water District’s mandatory rationing. In a report to the City Council on May 5, maintenance supervisor Mark Janney outlined how the city plans to make the cuts. “We’re looking at policy and strategy,” he explained. “We plan to pool all of the city’s water and allocate to the highest priority areas.” The newer landscaping along Marsh Creek Road and Oakhurst Boulevard will take priority over lawns that can be more easily replaced. Trimming and pruning, which encourages growth, will be cut back to meet safety standards. Most of the trees and shrubs that are well-established “may not look too good,” Janney said, “but they’ll survive.” Meeting the stiff requirements will mean letting much of the city’s median plantings and ground covers die back in order to save the turf in The Grove and on the playing fields, says City Manager Gary Napper. The loss of the median shrubs is not terrible. These manzanita-like plants have reached the end of a lifespan that began in poor soil, Napper explains.
See YMCA, page 13
See Landscape, page 18
André Gensburger/Clayton Pioneer
THE CONCORD/CLAYTON YMCA IS EXPECTING DEMAND FOR SUMMER RECREATION opportunities to be higher than ever because of the severe cuts to sports and enrichment programs in the schools. Under new leadership, the Y has a renewed emphasis on program development and is ramping up for a full summer of sports, classes, day camps and field trips. ANDRÉ GENSBURGER Clayton Pioneer
She may be new to the Concord/Clayton YMCA, but Jennifer Beck has made great strides in the four months since she took over as executive director and program development director. “With basketball going gangbusters and getting great reviews,
the focus right now is getting summer programs in place,” she said. “We have a fantastic full day camp,” she added, noting that the 9 a.m.-4 p.m. camp also has extended hours, with daycare 7-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m. NEW TEEN PROGRAMS For the first time, the Y is offering teens a counselor-in-
training option to shadow the camp counselor. “This gives them the opportunity to see whether they want to be a counselor with hands-on experience,” Beck said. “This program is near and dear to my heart. It focuses on responsibility and they get to assume the lead for games or craft activities and also give some relief to the counselor.” Then there are the teen trips
Explorer program opens a window into police work DENISEN HARTLOVE Clayton Pioneer
The Clayton Police Department is looking for a few good teenagers who are interested in learning about – and experiencing – the day to day life of being a police officer. In 1991, Sgt. Richard Enea founded the Clayton Police Department’s Explorer post, after starting others in Crescent City and Belmont. Today, Enea’s son, Cpl. Rich Enea, is following in his father’s footsteps. Formerly an Explorer himself, Enea acts as an advisor to the new generation of Explorer recruits. Enea described the program as serving two purposes. “They’re doing community service for the place where they live,” he said. “But the main one is it decides whether you want to be a police officer or not.” Explorers help the department at community events such as the Art & Wine festival and
Oktoberfest, attend monthly trainings in various aspects of police work and ride along with officers on patrol – usually a favorite activity. Matt McLaughlin, 18, has been with the program for three years. Recruited by Chief Dan Lawrence, McLaughlin recently achieved the rank of Sergeant Explorer. He described the atmosphere in Clayton as like a family. “You are like the little brother of the department,” he said. “Everybody can really count on you.” McLaughlin’s favorite aspect of being an Explorer is learning skills from each of the officers on the force. “You’re able to put together different parts from each person. You can learn everything there is to know about police work,” he said. McLaughlin is now studying criminal justice at Diablo Valley Junior College. His experience working in varying aspects of the job – community service, traffic
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directing, watching officers conduct traffic stops – cemented his long-fostered desire to become a police officer. “Every day is different,” he said. “That’s what makes the job to me really interesting. You go out there and don’t really know what to expect.” Katie Hill, 16, is another of the Clayton Police Explorers. She joined at the suggestion of a classmate at Clayton Valley High School. “A lot of people don’t know who’s protecting their city. I know from experience Clayton is in good hands,” she said. Enea said the Explorers learn appropriate behavior from the officers. “I really think that all of our officers really care about the community. (The Explorers) are going to see that and not know to treat people any differently. They’re not going to know how to do it the wrong way,” Enea said. “They’re going to have no problem being professional, being courteous, being nice.”
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“You learn how to have respect for people. It teaches you how to be a better person, how to respect different people for their differences,” said McLaughlin.
The experience isn’t specific to police work, and the lessons can be valuable in all areas of the Explorers’ lives. “How to use computers, basically how to get along with others, how to be a
respectful person, how to follow rules, how to be a team player,” said Enea. Applicants must be 14-21
See Explorer, page 15
Denisen Hartlove/Clayton Pioneer
Police Explorer Advisor, Cpl. Rich Enea, center, is flanked by Explorers Matt McLaughlin and Katie Hill. The program is designed for ‘teens who are considering a career in law enforcement.
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