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July 10, 2009
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Pancakes and parade bring community together for an old-fashioned Fourth JULIE PIERCE
MAYOR’S CORNER Think recycling even when you’re away from home We’re all enjoying the warm weather and summer activities. The Grove and community parks are full of concert fans, sports teams and families with picnics. We’ve had great turnouts at the summer Concerts in The Grove – what fun! As I watched everyone pack up their stuff to leave after the last concert, it was clear how much pride we all have in our community as folks made sure every bit of trash was picked up and put in the receptacles. Thank you! I also realized it’s a great time for a reminder about recycling. I’m impressed by how many of us are using reusable dishes and cutlery – what a classy bunch of picnickers. But those who choose a simpler way and use paper plates and plastic ware
See Mayor, page 18
Downtown landscaping saved by the well TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
This summer’s 45 percent cut to irrigation water mandated by the Contra Costa Water District sent city staff underground to find alternatives to metered water. Improvements to the existing well behind the library and renovation of the abandoned well on High Street will provide enough water to save the downtown landscaping and keep the lawns green in The Grove, maintenance supervisor John Johnston reported at the June 30 City Council meeting. A $5,600 pump upgrade to the city-owned well behind the library now adds 12,000 gallons a day to the city’s irrigation water supply, enough to irrigate the median landscaping between Mitchell Canyon Road and Oakhurst Drive. The abandoned well on High Street can be renovated for about $26,000, far less than
See Water, page 6
Once again, Claytonians set aside political affiliations and sports team rivalries as they gathered downtown on July 4 to celebrate the country’s birthday. A sense of community was the prevailing spirit. “Although people have differences politically, we can still get together to celebrate our commitment to democracy,” said Karen Amos, who rode in the parade on the Clayton Valley Presbyterian Church float with daughters Bess and Katie. Many started early at the Clayton Valley/Concord Sunrise Rotary pancake breakfast before gathering shoulder to shoulder along Main Street for the parade. The Clayton Valley Veterans of Foreign Wars kicked off the parade with the presentation of the American flag. The color guard stood at attention at the grandstand as the emcee, ABC 7 News anchor Dan Ashley, led the Pledge of Allegiance. Local choir Yesterday’s Kids sang the national anthem. Then, came the kids – hundreds of them – on bikes and trikes, pedal cars and scooters; in wagons and strollers, all bedecked for the day in sparkly red, white and blue. Proud parents strolled alongside with sunscreen, waving and calling out to the spectators.
See July 4, page 3
A father-son outing turned deadly late last month when Richard Sachtschale, 49, died of heat stroke while hiking on Mt. Diablo with his son. Sachtschale and his son Andrew, 17, were both experienced hikers. But on June 27, they were caught unprepared for temperatures that reached well into the triple digits. They started out early and entered the park at the Regency Gate about 7 a.m., heading up Donner Canyon to Mt. Olympia. The single track trail is steep and the going was slow. They reached the 3,000 ft. summit a little before noon. After a short rest, they started down, taking the longer route over North Peak, dropping down through Prospector’s Gap and heading down the fire trail. At Murchio Gap, with about half the hike still ahead, they ran out of water. Andrew estimates they had been hiking about six hours.
See Sachtschale, page 12
TUIJA CATALANO’S PHOTO of son Eric, 2 1/2, was the winning entry in the Pioneer’s 4th of July Celebration Photo Contest. Turn to page 18 for complete results.
Photo by Pete Barra
THE LARWOOD FAMILY COLLECTIVELY VOLUNTEERED over 1,500 hours at the Clayton Library last year. From left Cathy Kuo, Janet Larwood, Mayor Pierce, John Larwood and David Larwood
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Clayton man succumbs to heat on Mt. Diablo hike TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
It’s all in the family for library volunteers
David Larwood began volunteering at the Clayton Community Library so he could lead by example.
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And sure enough, his daughter Janet, son John and his wife, Cathy Kuo, joined him in community service. The Clayton
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family received the city’s Library Volunteer Award at the June 16 City Council meeting. “I just think it’s so neat that
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the whole family volunteers,” said Arlene Kikkawa-Nielsen, the library’s volunteer coordinator. “I wanted my daughter to have volunteer experience for college applications,” David said. “I thought I should ‘test the water’ and I guess that sort of inspired them.” Janet volunteered at the library for four years while attending Clayton Valley High School. She graduated from UC Berkeley this year. When David needed help on Saturdays as lead volunteer, son John picked up a shift. John graduated from CVHS this year and will attend Cal Poly in the fall. John acknowledges the experience was helpful on college applications. But he also learned how to manage his time with responsibilities and to ask questions. “I’ve been working at it since
See Volunteer, page 3
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Police continue to investigate molestation charges ANDRÉ GENSBURGER Clayton Pioneer
Following reports of an abduction/child molestation of a 10-year-old Clayton boy on June 19, the normally quiet Clayton community has been abuzz with speculation as to what happened. Clayton police are taking the charges seriously, but with network news coverage and local
See Investigation, page 4
Clayton Police Department
A FORENSIC INTERVIEW with the victim gave artists enough detail to compile a sketch of the suspect.
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