Have a Happy Than ksgiving
IT’S YOUR PAPER www.claytonpioneer.com
November 19, 2010
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Shuey and Stratford back for four more years TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
Clayton voters swam against the political tides on Nov. 2 when they sent incumbents Hank Stratford and Dave Shuey back to
the city council for another four years. Together, the two men garnered nearly 70 percent of the total votes cast. Attorney Dave Shuey was the frontrunner with 36 percent and Stratford, a CPA
and local businessman, was a close second with 33 percent. Challenger Ted Meriam came in a distant third with 18 percent of the votes and Jim Diaz finished with 13 percent. “I was very gratified to see
that, despite all of the negative views toward incumbents on state and national level, people recognize that Hank and I and the rest of the council have done a great job over the last four years,” said Shuey of the
incumbents’ landslide victory. Approximately 65 percent of Clayton’s 7336 registered voters cast ballots in the November race, a very high turnout, notes veteran Councilwoman Julie Pierce. Stratford, returning for a sec-
CV athlete takes second but turns down cash at long drive championship HANK STRATFORD Time to move on with city business The election is over and it is an honor to be able to serve another term. I have enjoyed getting to know more of our Clayton residents. I feel the weight of the responsibility to do what is in the best interest of Clayton and the people who live
See Mayor, page 6
DENISEN HARTLOVE Clayton Pioneer
Concord’s newly elected City Council members have their work cut out for them with the Sisyphean task of balancing the city’s budget despite a seeming never-ending series of cash grabs by the state. Ron Leone, Tim Grayson and Laura Hoffmeister will be sworn in as council members in a ceremony in the Council Chamber at the Civic Center on Dec. 7. The council will also select a new mayor at the meeting. Leone said the city’s priorities need to be the safety of its
Photo courtesy of the Mazza family
DOMENIC MAZZA MAY BE JUST 16-YEARS-OLD BUT HIS POWERFUL GOLF SWING EARNED him the runner-up spot in the annual Re/Max World Long Drive Championship earlier this month in Mesquite, Nevada. The Clayton Valley High School junior will be featured on the ESPN networks Dec. 25-26 when the World Championships are aired. Mazza was the only American to reach the Open Division semi-finals where he competed with older golfers from South Africa, Canada and England. Mazza, who is also a left-handed pitcher for the CVHS baseball team, was the first golfer to exceed 400 yards on the final day of the competition. JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
When Clayton Valley High School junior Domenic Mazza wakes up on Christmas, he can look forward to two days of national and international expo-
sure when he is featured at the Re/Max World Long Drive Championships on the ESPN networks. The 16-year-old from Concord took second in the prestigious open division of the world championships earlier this
month. What he won’t find under the tree (or in his bank account) is the $70,000 prize money the runner-up earns. In order to maintain his amateur status and eligibility to play sports in high school and college, he declined
Neighborhood Watch gets results in Peacock Creek
TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
Cal Fire firefighters Patrick Murphy, Capt. Mark Blohm, Rob Tapia and Warren Skrifvars are back on the job at the Sunshine Station after East County reinstated the contract for off season fire protection
The Sunshine Fire Station on Marsh Creek Road is open again after East Contra Costa Fire Protection District board of directors reversed its decision to close it during the off season as part of their cost cutting measures. During the fire season from May to November, the station is
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funded by the state. Over 100 Morgan Territory/Marsh Creek area residents calling themselves the East County Fairness Coalition turned out at the Nov. 1 East County Fire board meeting to persuade the board to reconsider their decision. Cheryl Morgan, spokesperson for the Coalition, called the decision “unfair, unjust and immoral.” Residents argued that cutting
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See Peacock Creek, page 7
the prize money. Joe Miller of England won $150,000 as the champion. Miller, a 26-year-old from London, was the 2005 Euro Long Drive titlist and out-
See Mazza, page 12
East County Fire reverses Sunshine decision
See Concord, page 16
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLAYTON, CA PERMIT 190
See Council Election, page 6
Forty-four Peacock Creek neighbors gathered to learn about home and personal security strategies during a recent Neighborhood Watch meeting. Neighborhood Watch is a crime prevention program that enlists the active participation of residents in cooperation with local police to prevent and reduce crime in Clayton’s neighborhoods. Herb Yonge facilitated one of the city’s most well-attended Neighborhood Watch meetings, held at the home of Dane and Kahni Horton. Peacock Creek neighbors took time not only to get to know each other, but to care about each other and to work together in a program of mutual assistance. Criminal activity had recently become a problem in Peacock Creek, and concerned neighbors met to learn how to fight crime and take back the peaceful
MAYOR’S CORNER
New Concord council focuses on finances, business
ond term, served as mayor this past year, with Shuey as vicemayor. Shuey will be the likely choice for mayor when the council reorganizes next month.
the contract with Cal Fire to staff the station in the offseason was unfair and put them at extreme risk. With the Sunshine Station closed, nearest fire or medical response would come from Brentwood, Antioch or Clayton with increased response times of 20 minutes or more. Homeowner insurance rates were severely affected by the
See Fire Station, page 8
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PEACOCK CREEK RESIDENTS Kahni Horton and Candace Bass met with city maintenance worker Dan Johnston to choose locations for their Neighborhood Watch signs.
Cookie Contest entry form on page 19 Enter by Dec. 6
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