IT’S YOUR PAPER www.claytonpioneer.com
October 28, 2011
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Haunted houses heat up a hometown Halloween DENISEN HARTLOVE Clayton Pioneer
DAVE SHUEY
MAYOR’S CORNER
The morality of respect Clayton’s “Do the Right Thing” program, in partnership with our local schools, appears to be doing what was intended, raising the awareness of our children and community to “doing unto others as you would have done unto you.” This month’s word is “Respect,” which always makes me think of Aretha Franklin’s awesome song on the word. There are several definitions of respect, but for our purposes it can be defined as “esteem for or a sense of the worth of a person” or “deference to a right, privilege, privileged position or someone or something considered to have certain rights or privileges.” Well, the Clayton Valley charter petition has proven to be an excellent teaching or learning tool regarding respect. Elected officials should be given respect given their position, but like all situations, continued respect must be earned and not abused. Unfortunately, as many of you have observed, the petition process has had its moments of both good faith and contentious debate. One must reconcile righteous indignation over perceived gamesmanship, and its attendant desire to exact retribution, with respect for the process, the person and the position. I have been in the forefront with this righteous indignation, and some have indicated, and more have probably felt, that I have
See Mayor, page 12
Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
HALLOWEEN IS THE SEASON FOR SCARY when ghosts, goblins and haunted houses rule. Some 800 hardy souls will pass under the arch at the Cursi House of Screams in Dana Farms bringing a holiday buzz to this otherwise quiet neighborhood.
PG&E sheds new light on city streets A major PG&E project to replace old wooden light poles in several of Clayton’s residential neighborhoods got underway this month. The poles, hollow in the middle, have rotted through and become a safety hazard says City Manager Gary Napper. The poles are all owned by PG&E and replacement is at their expense. The new poles are metal and set in cement and will have a Town and Country style fixture. Some of the areas that will see new poles are Easley Estates, Regency Woods, Clayton Greens,
Jeffrey Ranch, Casey Glen and Dana Ridge. The wood poles located in Silvercreek, Westwood, Yolanda Circle, and parts of Easley are city owned, and will not be replaced at this time. Several neighborhoods already have new poles but with the old style “tear-drop” fixture. Those fixtures will be replaced with the Town and Country style to create a more uniform look within the city, says John Johnston, the city’s maintenance supervisor. Johnston expects PG&E to complete the project by Dec. 31.
PG&E CONTRACTORS WORK to replace the lightpoles on Bloching Circle with newer, safer poles and fixtures. The older wooden poles are rotted through and have become a safety hazard.
JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
What’s Inside Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
See Halloween, page 4
Budget surplus will reward city workers TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
Local woman chases TV weather career to East Coast
CLAYTON NATIVE GINA DE VECCHIO started her career as a broadcast meteorologist this summer at WMDT-TV 47 News in Salisbury, Maryland.
With packs of princesses and ghouls roaming the streets this Halloween, grown-ups may feel left out (at least until the small revelers are in bed, their treats left unguarded). But this year, Clayton has a number of haunted houses and ghost walks for all ages to enjoy. Many people, when finding themselves possessed of extra garage or backyard space, add guest rooms, bookshelves, and barbecues. Not Kyle Cursi, however. Working together with friends, and using donations and oftscavenged parts, he built a series of rooms into the 4-car garage and side yard of his home near the Concord/Clayton border, each area a vignette of horror. Visitors troop through funeral homes, blood-drenched bathrooms and a dentist’s office that will ensure all who see it floss -
When Gina De Vecchio was in kindergarten at Mt. Diablo Elementary School she was always talking about the weather. Her dad Steve would say quite often, “You’re going to be a TV weatherwoman.” De Vecchio says, “I’ve always had a passion for weather.” The 24-year-old Clayton native realized that prophecy in June when she was hired at WMDT-TV 47 News in Salisbury, Maryland as weekend weatherperson on the ABC affiliate which covers the Delmarva Peninsula where Delaware, Maryland and Virginia converge
bordered by Chesapeake Bay, Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Salisbury is 2500 miles “as the crow flies” from Clayton almost straight across the country. De Vecchio was always good in science and math in school and when she graduated from Clayton Valley High she wanted to go to San Jose State or Hawaii, the only colleges offering a meteorology degree with an emphasis on forecasting that also had women’s water polo. She chose San Jose State and thrived in her major (there were just three other meteorology majors who graduated with her
See De Vecchio, page 9
After two years of belt-tightening and pay cuts, city employees got a big thank you from the city council last week. A general fund surplus of $136,029 will translate to a $2,500 bonus for all 24 of the city’s full time employees. Part time employees will share in the bonus based on the number of hours worked. Another $10,000 will be set aside for needed training programs. Income was $113,594 more than budgeted, primarily due to higher interest earnings and sales and property tax revenues. Anticipated expenses were lower by $257,823. After adjustments for matching expenses and revenue, this translates to a general fund surplus of $136,029. While other cities have been drowning in red ink and cutting essential services, Clayton’s general fund reserve has grown from $4.6 million to $5 million in the last two years. This is the second year that the city has ended the year with both a balanced budget and a surplus. without cutting city services. Employee concessions of 4.1 percent, including furlough days, higher cost for health insurance, no cost of living increases and no premium for police officers working holidays account for $458,000 in savings to the city since 2009. The pay cuts will continue until the economy strengthens, said Councilwoman Julie Pierce. “But this is a way to say thank you for their sacrifices.”
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PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLAYTON, CA PERMIT 190