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November 5, 2010
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World Series fever spread quickly as fans pack Ed’s for opening game DANA GUZZETTI Clayton Pioneer
HANK STRATFORD
MAYOR’S CORNER City shares cost-cutting tips with Grand Jury The city recently received several requests from the Contra Costa County Civil Grand Jury. It appears that the Grand Jury is looking for best practices that can be shared with other entities. One of the requests was regarding ideas and measures that have stretched city revenues and increased efficiency. I wanted to share with you some of
See Mayor, page 4
PFC, Boosters offer $2,000 reward for CVHS locker room burglary TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
An exciting Homecoming Week ended on a sour note when thieves broke into the locker room used by the opposing team during the Oct. 22 game, stealing cell phones, equipment, backpacks and other personal items from the Northgate High School team members. The room is always locked during the game, said CVHS Athletic Director Pat Middendorf. Varsity head coach Herc Pardi said the room was locked as usual at half time when he let the players in. The Northgate coaches said the room was locked when they returned to the field at the end of half time. It is not known how the thieves entered the room. “I don’t know if anyone who was not there can imagine what it felt like when we returned to the locker room after the game,” said Middendorf. “We had all just had an incredibly spirited,
Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
THERE WASN’T A HAPPIER OR LOUDER PLACE IN TOWN on Oct. 8 than Ed’s Mudville Grill when Giants fans gathered shoulder-to-shoulder to cheer the home team in the opening game of the World Series. Pictured are Teddy McDavitt, Ed’s owner Ed Moresi, Jim Moylan, Brook Moylan and Clayton Mahlock.
See World Series page 8
Artist pieces together the puzzle to create unique rock artwork PAMELA WIESENDANGER Clayton Pioneer
See Reward, page 6
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLAYTON, CA PERMIT 190
Orange and black attired sports fans packed Ed’s Mudville Grill for the San Francisco Giants vs. Texas Rangers World Series opener last week. True Giants fans who suffered through nail-biting playoff games, A’s fans with baseball fever and those who just came for fun became one raucous family for that moment in baseball history. “I remember the frozen nights at Candlestick, and the chain-link fence,” says Richard Rogers, who grew up in Clayton. “I’ve known Ed for 40 years. Where else would I be?” Applause and moans punctuate high-pitched conversations as the suspense of the baseball drama play out in a room surrounded by big screen TVs. Lifelong Giants fan Alex Visaya fought commuter traffic from Martinez to be part of the Ed’s scene. He and the rest of the crowd gasp in unison as
Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
NAOMI MORGAN SELECTS A ROCK FOR HER CURRENT INTARSIA work from over 100 baskets of rocks collected through the years. She will exhibit her work at the Gem and Rock Show this weekend at Centre Concord.
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Clayton resident Naomi Morgan will display samples of an art form that flourished in 16th century Florence at the Gem and Rock show this weekend in Concord. Her process is known as intarsia, pietra dura or commesso, and the American Masters of Stone calls Morgan “the most prolific commesso artist in this country.” The organization is cataloging the works of the approximately 300 known commesso artists in North America. Morgan will bring six to seven of her 60 pictures from stone to the show at Centre Concord. The pictures are compiled of many different rocks carefully cut, filed and glued together like an intricate puzzle. It’s different than creating a mosaic, which is typically regular-shaped components held together by grout. The life of a “rock hound” is as dynamic and colorful as the geology they hunt. Morgan and Bill, her husband of 49 years, have traveled as far and wide as Canada and Australia to bring home unique rocks. Like snowbirds, they head for the desert during winter and to cooler cli-
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mates in the summer. When camping with her two grandsons, she sends them hunting for rocks. Morgan has collected enough rock, including rainforest marble
(her favorite), to fill a hundred wire baskets separated by type of rock and color. It is a life-sized palette in her yard.
See Morgan page 4
The streets are paved with . . . asphalt!
CITY INSPECTOR ROBB BOOTH MEETS WITH PAVING CONTRACTOR John Moffat as they prepare streets for pothole repair and new paving. In total, 34 streets are on the city’s list for repair, overlay or complete reconstruction. The $1.34 million project includes installing new handicap ramps to bring them into ADA compliance. Moffat expects all the work to be done by the end of November.
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