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February 11, 2011
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City, school district face off over gym use fees
Redevelopment funds a question, but other projects moving forward
DAVE SHUEY
MAYOR’S CORNER Thank you to all who have emailed me in response to my columns. Most have been positive and constructive, which is appreciated. Some have been negative and are now serving as kitty litter, but I do read and consider all so please keep sending. Please remember I have only 600 words or less in which to convey information to you, so by necessity I have to be general in nature. The point is to alert you to issues so that you can explore more if you want to on your own. So if you think I didn’t give you all the info or the entire story, you are probably right, but it is not with any intent to deceive or mislead. Finally, remember that sometimes I think I am funnier than I am so please read my column with a light heart – even if you don’t always get my humor. There is good news and bad news on our relationship with the Mt. Diablo Unified School District. The good news is that the district has agreed to give the city the easement at Gym Court road that will allow us to
See Mayor, page 14
‘Survival’ tops Council’s 2011 goals
TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
THE CITY OF CLAYTON DONATED MORE THAN $1.5 MILLION IN LAND AND CASH to the Mt. Diablo School District to build the Clayton Community Gym which opened in 2003. In exchange, a joint use agreement with the district gave the city the right to use the gym during non-school hours. A dispute between the district and the city over custodian charges now threatens to derail that agreement. TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
The Mt. Diablo Unified School District will approve an easement needed for the city to add 100 spaces to the parking lot at the Clayton Community
Park ball fields, according to Mayor Dave Shuey. The ball fields are adjacent to the Clayton Community Gymnasium, which is owned by the school district. Plans for the expansion hit a snag last month when school district officials
threatened to withhold approval of the needed easement until the city paid $10,980 in disputed gymnasium operating charges. The two issues are unrelated and should not have been linked, says Shuey. The school district is
At the City Council’s goal setting meeting last week, the theme song could easily have been “Where Have All the Dollars Gone?” With the potential wipeout of Redevelopment Agencies and the economy still stuck in the mud, continued downtown revitalization faces an uncertain future. Several projects have been tabled or are simply dormant waiting for an economic turnaround. “This next year, I just want to survive and avoid layoffs if this RDA thing goes through,” Mayor Dave Shuey said of the governor’s plan to eradicate the Redevelopment Agencies.
demanding payment of the gym fees by Feb. 15 or it will consider the city in breach of agreement and “act accordingly.” To continue using the gym under the current joint use
LOOKING TO LANDSCAPING With money in short supply, the council short-listed a few projects and looked at ways to generate more revenue in 2011. Landscaping plans halted by the drought and water rationing are back in action for 2011. The city is working with designers to
See Gym, page 7
See Goals, page 8
At any age, love is a many-splendored thing
BOB AND JUNE CASE
PAMELA WIESENDANGER Clayton Pioneer
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLAYTON, CA PERMIT 190
Enjoy being together. Like each other. Obvious. Simple. Time-tested to be true. This is the answer to “What is your secret to a successful relationship?” posed to six delightful couples at Diamond Terrace, a retirement community, in the
WILMA STONE AND BILL ELLIS
ADRIENNE AND PHIL LAMOUREUX
BILL AND STELLA SHAHAN
GORDON AND CARMEN STEELE
DARRELL AND BARBARA SUTTON
spirit of Valentine’s Day. Through years together ranging from 7 to 74, these couples greet each day looking forward to time spent together. They share joys and losses, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, careers, hobbies and miles traveled together. The happiness of simply being together transcends all. Like scenes from “When Harry Met Sally,” the charming couples look to each other to tell their stories of love and romance. Wilma Stone and Bill Ellis have been together seven years. They are both from Oklahoma but met at Diamond Terrace. Wilma was asked to entertain Bill while he waited for an
appointment. “And he has been entertaining me ever since,” Wilma says with a laugh. “We miss each other when we are not together,” says Bill. After being widowed, Wilma spent time in solitude doing beading. She did not realize she was lonely until she received a postcard about Diamond Terrace. She visited with her daughter and rented an apartment on the spot. “I wasn’t looking for love,” reflects Wilma. But as she gazes at Bill and smiles, it is clear she is happy she found it. Adrienne and Phil Lamoureux have been married 52 years. They met on a blind date while he was on leave from the Army. His original marriage
proposal was a suggestion to get married sans ring. “She’s still waiting,” jokes Phil. With five children, enjoying being together was not enough to make it happen – so Adrienne and Phil made special time for each other each week. They continue the tradition with dinner by candlelight “every night,” emphasizes Adrienne. They volunteer together as well. Adrienne says they do not live by the philosophy “Never go to bed mad,” but they always show respect for each other to resolve disagreements. Carmen and Gordon Steele have been married 54 years. Their mothers thought they should go out. “I didn’t want to,” Carmen admits.
She traveled and just before she embarked on a trip to Japan, she decided to go on a date that started at Gordon’s bowling tournament and ended at the movie “Anastasia.” Carmen canceled Japan and the rest is history. They have since traveled together as far as New Zealand and Australia. Their most romantic memory is dancing at midnight on New Year’s Eve on a cruise ship off the coast of Florida. They very much enjoy their time together. But for those moments when not on even ground, they do believe in never going to bed mad. “Kiss good night and wake the next day with a kiss,” Gordon adds. Stella and Bill Shahan have
been married 62 years. They met at the White Fountain soda parlor in Antioch. “Bill pulls up in a convertible,” recalls Stella. He gave her and a friend a ride and picked Stella up the next day for their first date. They married later that year after she graduated from high school. Their most romantic memory is of a trip to England and France. Bill proudly showed Stella the countries he toured during his service in World War II. They like playing cards and going to the casino together. And the togetherness is not just for the fun times. They always offer to help each other with chores.
What’s Inside Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Community Calendar . . . . . . . . . . .10 Directory of Advertisers . . . . . . . . . .5 DVMS Reporter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Financial Sense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Fit with Levity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
From the Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Food for Thought . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
See Love, page 17
Senior Moments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Teen Speak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Theatre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16