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November 11, 2011
925.672.0500
MDUSD rejects charter school petition deNiSeN HarTlove Clayton Pioneer
After months of passionate preparation and pushback by both sides, on Tuesday night the Mt. Diablo Unified School District Board of Education
rejected the petition to convert Clayton Valley High School to a charter school, saying the financial documents submitted by the charter petitioners didn’t meet all the conditions set by the board in the conditional approval granted in September.
District Associate Counsel Deborah Cooksey described the petitioners as tireless and responsive to the district’s requests for information starting June 8, when the original petition was submitted. Petitioners and district staff were still trading num-
bers and negotiating the Friday before Tuesday’s meeting. In the resolution to deny the petition, completed only hours before the meeting, the district said there were overstatements by the petitioners of the charter’s revenues and questioned some of
the cost assumptions. “Part of the problem has to do with the ongoing structural problem the state has with its finances and the effects on its schools and districts, and they’re not fully incorporating that into their plan,” said district
CFO Bryan Richards. At the meeting, parents, teachers and students, about evenly divided for and against the charter, spoke persuasively, recited poetry and even sang in
See Charter, page 9
Local barn owls to get new homes Owl boxes are an environmentally friendly way to combat rodents DavE ShuEy
Peggy SPear Clayton Pioneer
mayOr’s COrner
Bits and pieces from City Hall The City Council has unanimously endorsed and accepted the generous offer of the Hoyer family to donate a flagpole in honor of Clayton’s first lady, Eldora Hoyer, to be placed in our beautiful downtown park. As you know, Bob and Eldora were key players in incorporating Clayton in 1964, were our first Mayor and first lady and kept active in supporting the City throughout the years, including donating the flagpole that sits outside of City Hall currently. Bob was also on the committee that designed the
See Mayor, page 6
Fairness Coalition leader appointed to fire board Tamara STeiNer Clayton Pioneer
When East Contra Costa Fire Protection District threatened to shutter the Marsh Creek Sunshine Fire Station in 2010 for six months of the year to save $366,000, Cheryl Morgan cried “foul.” She called the Marsh Creek and Morgan Territory neighbors to action and the East Diablo Fairness Coalition was born. The district reversed its decision and renewed the needed contract with CalFire to assure the station continued to operate year around. Last month Morgan was
See Fire Board, page 13
Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
mitChell CanyOn neighbOrs, native wild bird enthusiasts and Cemex Quarry are teaming up to provide a solution for homeless barn owls. Cemex workers Matt Griffin and Mike Jacobsen complete the installation of one of several new owl boxes installed on the Cemex property at the end of Mitchell Canyon Road.
If you build it, they will come. At least that’s what a unique coalition of Mitchell Canyon neighbors, Cemex Quarry employees and native bird enthusiasts are hoping for as they install owl boxes – sort of like condos for barn owls – on the rural quarry lands west of Clayton. The boxes are the answer to the barn owl population’s housing crisis. As more and more development spreads across the area and older barns and other structures are torn down, barn owls are finding themselves homeless. Temporary digs in palms and other trees can blow away with a big gust of wind. And if the barn owls move out, rats and other rodents move in.
See Owls, page 18
Chuck Evans: Clearly a Clayton original Longtime civic leader still looks to city’s future Pamela WieSeNdaNger Clayton Pioneer
Downtown Clayton still feels like the Old West with hitching posts near paved parking spaces, frontier-style architecture and 27 miles of trails that meander along creeks and snake up into Mt. Diablo State Park. All of this can be traced to the city’s General Plan, originally completed in 1971 and considered by 47-year resident Chuck Evans to be one of his most notable civic contributions. Evans, now 85, carefully touches the worn, spiral-bound plan filled with black and white photos. No such document existed, he says, when the city incorporated in 1964. “It’s a dream come true,” Evans says, that the current plan
What’s Inside Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . .16
reflects the same goals as the original. Shaping Clayton Over nearly five decades, Evans has been on the planning commission, the city council and served as mayor and citizen advisor on transportation committees. Evans recalls his time on the planning commission developing the early stages of the General Plan, helping decide what Clayton wanted – and what it didn’t want. He chuckles as he reveals a map showing a freeway alongside Kirker Pass Road. One feature in the plan that did not change over time was having a town center. Residents named Clayton’s “small town and village environment” as one of the main reasons for living there. “The trails are really important to maintaining that rural feeling,” Evans says. Bob Hoyer, Clayton’s first mayor, encouraged Evans to be
Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Community Calendar . . . . . .14 CVHS Reporter . . . . . . . . . . .8 Directory of Advertisers . . . . .5 DVMS Reporter . . . . . . . . . . .8
a council member. “Chuck was always very positive towards planning,” he says of his longtime friend. Clayton council member Julie Pierce agrees. “As an early council member, he was part of the team that made sure we had strategic, not rampant, growth,” another goal of the plan. Maintaining pride in Clayton is also an ongoing goal of the plan. As mayor, Evans led Clayton in its recognition as a national bicentennial community by the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration in Washington D.C. “It was a really exciting time,” Evans says. “It involved the entire community.” EvanS’ Early DayS Evans’ involvement in civic duty was a natural choice. He was born in the state capitol of Sacramento in 1926.
See Evans, page 6
Fit with Levity . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Food for Thought . . . . . . . . .18 From the Chief . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Holiday Guide ..........15
One Of ClaytOn’s Original general Plan framers, Chuck Evans still likes nothing more than spreading out his maps and notes and talking about planning in Clayton’s early days. Letters to the Editor . . . . . . . .7 Mind Matters . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Obituary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Sports Shorts . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Teen Speak . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Theatre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLAYTON, CA PERMIT 190
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
November 11, 2011
Around Town Kim Zocchi and John Herrera exchange vows
Ring, ring. Ring, ring. The lines were buzzing at Centre Concord on Oct. 29 when the Clayton/Concord Sunrise Rotary Club held its annual “Rotary Goes Hollywood” dinner dance and auction. Lucky bidders walked away with vacations in Mexico, laptops and fancy evenings out. All proceeds go to support the Rotary Club projects, including their current campaign to eradicate polio everywhere in the world. Pictured are Rotary members Joe and Julia Aguilar with friends Pat and Tefis Thompsons the Progresso chefs’ phone brigade.
Mya Rain Taylor, 3, has a new baby sister. Aria Star was born on July 3 at Kaiser in Walnut Creek. Her parents are Tod and Hanna Taylor.
Granny makes Ghost Walk appearance
Gold Award for Emily Lawson
The Blackhawk home of the groom’s sister was the site of the fall afternoon wedding and reception when Kim Zocchi married Oakland Raiders executive, John Herrera. Both are Clayton residents. The entire wedding party was a family affair. The bride was walked down the aisle by her son, Clayton Tanner, and
attended by Emily, Hayley and Jaimee Herrera, the groom’s daughters. Groomsmen were Clayton Tanner and Jason and Brandon Herrera, sons of the groom. Shawn Robinson of Clayton Community Church officiated. The couple lives in Oakhurst and will honeymoon after football season, says the bride. “Go, Raiders.”
For Lease: Dana Hills! 1-story on a quiet court 5 bed/2.5 baths, apx. 2,694sf & 3 car garage. $2500 p/mo.
New Claytonians
Rotary dinner raises funds for polio
Emily Lawson of Girl Scout T r o o p 3 0 1 6 3 recently achieved her Girl Scout G o l d Award. Her project was a yearbook for the girls at Crossroads High School. Emily took portrait photos of all the Crossroads girls, providing the drape and backdrop for the portraits and then assembled photos of the staff, daycare and student activities to produce the pages. “The hardest things I faced
in my project were making the templates and communicating with girls who go to a school that is 20 minutes away from mine,” said Emily. “However when I handed the girls the finished product all of their faces lit up. I knew I had accomplished my goal.” “The reason I chose cross roads as the community I wanted to help was because I sympathized with them. The girls who attend cross roads are pregnant teenagers who have anything but a normal teenage life. They face hardships every day, overcoming many obstacles that girls their ages should not be facing yet.”
Clayton Peacock Creek at Oakhurst Country Club! Fantastic “Coronado model!
When Misty Brun came out for the Clayton Halloween Ghost Walk, she didn’t expect to actually “bump into” one of the celebrity ghosts. “I FOUND Sarah Norton lurking down Black Diamond way,” says Misty. “She was looking for her horse and buggy.” This year was the 31st year that Richard Taylor has led the celebrity ghost walk that drew more than 150.
Say hello to Finnegan Gordon Slavin Armstrong. He was born on August 13, 2011 in Austin, Texas. He weighed in at 8 pounds, 9 ounces. Mom and dad are Alison Slavin and Alan Armstrong, both formerly of Clayton. Alan and Alie both graduated from CVHS in 1996. Proud grandparents Bob and Carol Armstrong and Bob and Phyllis Slavin, all live in Clayton.
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Clayton Chaparral Springs at Oakhurst Country Club! “Manzanita” model 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, approx. 1,355sf, fireplace, inside laundry & a 2 car attached garage. Neutral décor throughout! Cozy private patio. Walk to community pool & spa as well as downtown! Short Sale Call for more info
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Clayton Market Update provided by George Vujnovich of Better Homes Realty ADDRESS
PRICE
60 Mt. McKinley Ct ...................$680,000 16000 Marsh Creek Road ........$577,000 144 El Portal Pl ........................$523,000 327 Semillon Cir.......................$525,000 3249 Aspara Dr ........................$395,000 1261 Shell Cir...........................$280,000 380 Blue Oak Ln ......................$699,900 20 Mt. Olympus Pl....................$505,000 7 Donner Creek Ct ...................$198,000 3109 Windmill Canyon Dr ........$520,000 975 Kenston Dr ........................$300,000 641 Mt. Duncan Dr ...................$605,000 3102 Coyote Cir .......................$305,000 3046 Miwok ..............................$690,000
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November 11, 2011
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com
Page 3
Around Town Local celebs show their acting chops in Woman’s Club ‘whodunnit’ NICCI SHIPSTAD Clayton Pioneer
The audience was stumped. Who killed Sir Arthur Conan Hoyle? Only 20 of the more than 150 amateur detectives present correctly solved the murder in “Board Stiff,” the second annual Clayton Valley Woman’s Club murder mystery dinner at Boundary Oak on Oct. 23. When Hoyle, played by Clayton mayor, David Shuey, turns up dead in his futuristic
library, super-sleuth Inspector Dogleash played by Clayton Police Chief Dan Lawrence and his able assistants Bob Donner, Bob Light and Herb Weimar are called in to investigate. As the play unfolds, it’s clear that castmates Laura Hoffmeister from the city of Clayton, Realtor Lynne French, Rocco’s Ristorante owner Rocco Biale, City Councilman Howard Geller, “Mac” McCormick of Ed’s Mudville Grill and Nicci Shipstead, Clayton Pioneer reporter, all
Pioneer Travels Ireland The Clayton Pioneer traveled with Clayton resident Barbara Wall and her sister from Michigan, Mary Ann Eneix, when they spent a holiday in Ireland in September. They visited their good friends Tom and Pat Conlon and their sister Anne McKane at the Conlon’s traditional thatched cottage in Moate, County Westmeath, west of Dublin. The day was rainy with a chill in the air, but the cottage inside was very cozy from the warmth of a peat fire. Barbara and her sister spent two days in Dublin before driving to Bantry for five days, Kinsale for three and Avoca in County Wicklow for their last night.
found a motive for murder. Club members Chris Light and Connie Weimar led their committee over the course of many months of writing, rewriting, planning and hosting. Net proceeds from this fall fundraiser benefit community charities and scholarships. Club meetings are at 10:00 am on the second Tuesday of each month. For club information or to join CVWC, please call (925) 6721163 or email info@claytonvalleywomansclub.org.
Greek Cruise The locals who regularly meet for coffee every morning (“rain or shine”) ventured a little further than the Clayton Station Starbucks for their morning coffee last month when they boarded an Oceania cruise ship for the Greek islands. Pictured are from left, Pete and Carol Chrobak, Renee and Tom Faine, Anne and Tom Sparks and Silvia and Bill Gall.
Pooches on parade
CVWC HOSTED ITS SECOND ANNUAL MYSTERY DINNER complete with murder and capture in just a few hours of fun and games. Celebrity suspects, detectives and victim include (back row), Rocco Biale, Bob Donner, Dan Lawrence, Herb Weimar, Bob Light, Howard Geller, Dave Shuey, Chris “Mac” McCormick, (front row) Chris Light, Lynne French, Nicci Shipstead and Laura Hoffmeister.
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91 Mount Rushmore Place, Clayton $649,000 Dana Hills – Incredible 4BD/2.5BA shows pride of ownership in the stylish craftsmanship & details! Granite kitchen w/breakfast bar. Exquisite deck in back along with outdoor kitchen.
Halloween at Rodie’s Feed on Marsh Creek Road took on a distinct canine flair when 14 local pooches dressed up and walked the red carpet at Rodie’s annual Halloween Costume Party. Winning for the best costume was Suki, the Chihuahua. The “teen princess” came with owner Daylene Moldovan of Clayton.
3095 Windmill Canyon Drive, Clayton $579,000 Oakhurst – 5BD plus office/den & 3 baths is updated to please. 1BD/BA on the main level. Soaring ceilings & cherry floors, beautiful baths. Private flat lot backs to open space.
2997 Bella Drive, Concord $399,000 Solar Home – Lovely 4BD/3BA plus loft area & laundry room. Nearby BART, shops & downtown. Custom touches throughout: built-in cabinets, surround sound, dual HVAC.
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356 Blue Oak Lane, Clayton $658,000 Eagle Peak – Great curb appeal on prime lot! 4BD + office/den, 2.5BA has open kitchen w/island & breakfast bar. Master suite w/2-way fireplace & jetted tub.
Carol VanVaerenbergh (925) 672-1772
Windermere Community Service was a success! We collected 2,524 pounds of food for the Contra Costa Food Bank
325 Roundhill Drive, Clayton $479,000 Briarwood – 4BD/2.5BA floor plan near downtown. Office, formal living & dining rooms on main level. Bright kitchen w/recessed lights & garden window. Large, private yard w/pool.
Top Row (L-R): Harry Stevens, Marybeth Cook, Danny French, Julie Dunn, Shelly Gwynn, Julie Clairmont-Baratta, Angelique Booth. Middle Row (L-R): Stephanie Cicconi, Carol VanVaerenbergh, Lynne French, Inge Yarborough, Michelle Gittleman, Maria Sanchez. Bottom Row: Bonnie Manolas (with newest addition to Windermere family). Not Pictured: John Silvester, Nancy D’onofrio, Heather Gray, Terry Johnson, Regina Wofford, Walter Merlino
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
November 11, 2011
Modern luxuries in an ancient town
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If you have ever wanted to stay in a small town in France where you can step out the front door and walk to the town square for a fresh croissant and cappuccino at the local patisserie, or enjoy an afternoon glass of wine in a café that surrounds the plaza, then I have just the place for you. Nestled between the Mediterranean coastline and the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains is the beautiful little town of Limoux. It is in the heart of Cathar Country, just a few minutes from the medieval walled city of Carcassonne and about an hour from Toulouse. Limoux is located in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of Southern France, an area that is steeped in history and is surrounded by castles, abbeys and cathedrals. The medieval town with a population of about 10,000 is best known for its sparkling wine, Blanquette de Limoux. Locals say the process
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for making sparkling wine was stolen by Dom Perignon when he was passing through the region and then went on to call it his own and created “champagne.” It is quite good and a much cheaper alternative. The area is perfect for walking, hiking, cycling, visiting wineries and enjoying the regional delicacies and specialties such as cassoullet, a delicious stew of white beans and meat. Limoux was actually the starting point for the 15th leg of the 2011 Tour de France and attracts many of those who train annually for this event. We spent a week in a charming and elegant 14th century private hotel called Montfaucon that has been beautifully and lovingly restored by a couple from California. It can accommodate up to five couples who each have their own bedroom and en suite bath that are double the size of most hotel rooms. Everything from the fabrics to the furniture to the art on the walls was impeccably chosen for its beauty and historical significance, as well as its comfort. The patio of the home overlooks the Aude River and is steps from the heart of town. Our tour directors were two
lovely young ladies who spent the entire week chauffeuring us around to various sights and taking us to incredible places for lunches and dinners. We sampled the local fare in everything from a hunting lodge, to a winery, to a Michelin-star restaurant inside castle walls. We were also treated to an authentic medieval dinner,
Send your questions and column ideas to Peggy Bidondo at timetogo@claytonpioneer.com.
Buddy Poppy remembers all veterans The Veterans of Foreign Wars will be in front of the Safeway stores in Clayton Station and Countrywood Shopping Center from Nov. 11-13 to distribute the bright red Buddy Poppies that have become a memorial symbol of those who have served in the Armed Forces. The poppies were mentioned in the first line of the WWI poem “In Flanders Fields.” by John McCrae. In Flanders Field the poppies grow between the crosses row on row. The striking imagery of the bright red of the poppy against the white crosses represented the blood
shed by those who had died. Pick up a poppy and wear it proudly in remembering America’s Veterans.
The VFW Buddy Poppy Program assists in maintaining state and national rehabilitation and service programs for America’s veterans. For more information, call (925) 255-3449.
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Peggy Bidondo THE TOWN PLAZA
prepared and served by a local “wench.” We used a board for a plate and could use only a knife and spoon as we devoured six delicious and unusual courses. Visit their website at www.montfaucontours.com for more information on other types of activities, such as weeks devoted to painter’s retreats, culinary experiences, and language and cultural immersion opportunities. Other activities included attending a wine school, hiking a gorge, and visiting a couple of weekly farmers markets where you can purchase everything from live animals to incredible cheeses, fresh vegetables, fabric, kitchen utensils and works of local artists.
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November 11, 2011
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com City of Clayton now accepting applications for
P.O. Box 1246 6200 Center Street, Suite H, Clayton, CA 94517 TAMARA
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CLASSIFIEDS Classified rates per insertion: Non-profit: $12 for first 30 words, $.20 each additional word Individual/non-commercial: $18 for first 30 words, $.30 each additional word Commercial: $48 for first 30 words, $.40 each additional word To place your classified ad over the phone, call the office at (925) 6720500 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. Or, you may fax your typewritten ad and credit card information to (925) 672-6580. All classifieds must be paid for in advance by credit card (Master Card or Visa) We will not accept any ad that discriminates on the basis of race, color,
LET US KNOW Weddings, engagements, anniversaries, births and deaths all weave together as part of the fabric of our community. Please let us know of these important events. We ask only that the announcement be for a Clayton resident. You will find the appropriate form for your announcement on our Website. Attach your photo to the form. Make sure the image size you are about to send is at least 3 MB but not bigger than 6MB. The only format we accept is JPG. You can also mail or bring your print to the office and we can scan it for you. Also on our Website are forms for submitting Community Calendar items and press releases for your organization. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Clayton Pioneer welcomes letters from our readers. As a general rule, letters should be 250 words or less and submitted at least one week prior to publication date. Letters concerning current issues will have priority. We may edit letters for length and clarity. All letters will be published at the editor’s discretion. Please include your name, address and daytime telephone number. We will not print letters from “anonymous.” E-mail your letter in a Word document to tamara@claytonpioneer.com. Letters MUST be submitted via E-mail.
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To apply, or for more information, contact Clayton City Hall, 6000 Heritage Trail, (925) 673-7300 or email ljackson@ci.clayton.ca.us; or visit the city website at www.ci.clayton.ca.us.
Directory of Advertisers
TRAILS AND LANDSCAPING COMMITTEE The Trails and Landscaping Committee, comprised of up to 11 members, is appointed by the Clayton City Council. This citizens Committee advises the City Council and City Manager on maintenance, improvement and financial matters related to the 2007 Citywide Landscape Maintenance District (a community facilities district). The District has an annual budget to maintain the roadway and median public landscaped areas, public open space/hillsides of the City, annual weed abatement and seasonal fire break tasks, the Clayton Fountain, and the Trails System of the City.
TAMARA S TEINER , Editor
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tions and installation. Call or email Nicole Hackett 673-1746, or gardengirl94517@yahoo.com. Music Lessons Voice, piano and guitar lessons. All ages and music styles. My studio or your home. Flexible hours. Reasonable rates. Lots of fun. Call Julia 497-1003.
WANTED Come join Mazzei Realty! Currently interviewing and hiring new and experienced real estate agents. Call 925-693-0757 for details. Real Estate Agents Be Successful! Lynne French is expanding and interviewing for a few agents. Call her today 6728787.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Help Fight Hunger Anna Chan – AKA: The Lemon Lady needs your help! Weekly commitment appreciated. Please contact Anna at 672-1988 or AnnaAndAva@gmail.com. Meals on Wheels Drivers 1 – 1 1/2 per week. Drivers and relief drivers needed for delivery of Meals on Wheels in East County. Call Jim at 673-0300 or e-mail hairbyjim@att.net. Hospice of the East Bay – Anna’s Attic Volunteer at Anna’s Attic Thrift Shoppe, located at 5350 Clayton Road. For information call 6749072. To learn more about volunteering for Hospice of the East Bay please contact 887-5678, or email volunteers@hospiceeatbay.org. Clayton Historical Society Museum The Clayton Historical Society Museum needs a greeter for two hours per month from 2-4 p.m. Wednesdays or Sundays. Call the museum at 672-0240 and leave your name. Clayton Community Library Needs volunteers. Minimum age 13. Minimum commitment is 6 months. Some training provided. Contact: Arlene @ 673-9777 or email: nielsenjanc@aol.com.
Construction and Trades Appliance Repairs by Bruce, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2700 Belfast Plumbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .457-5423 Black Diamond Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .777-3440 Burkin Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212-3339 Campanella’s Custom Contracting . . . . . . . . . . . .693-0172 Diablo View Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .822-5144 J&J’s Final Coat Painting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .625-5849 LHI Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-9941 Smith & Bernal Roofing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0138 Tipperary Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-2679 Dining and Entertainment Clayton Club Saloon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-0440 Country Waffles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .831-3554 Memo’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .691-6200 Ravioli’s Italian Market Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-3819 Subway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-0621 Willows Theatre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-1300 Financial and Insurance Services Dawn King Bookkeeping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .933-0553 Kommer, Paul - Merrill Lynch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .988-2111 Littorno, Richard - Attorney at Law . . . . . . . . . . .672-6463 ProFit Business Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-1025 Prosperitas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-7700 Snyder, Ken . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .270-3617 Van Wyck, Doug - State Farm Insurance . . . . . . .672-2300 Funerals Neptune Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .944-5100 Ouimet Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-4242 Home and Garden Abbey Carpet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .686-9901 Clear Splash Pool Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-6245 Danmer Shutters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .202-1220 Diablo Lawnscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .381-3757 Just Floors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .681-4747 Navlet’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .681-0550 Nichols Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9955 Utopic Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0055 Waraner Bros. Tree Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .831-2323 Mailing and Shipping The UPS Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-6245 Optometry Foresight Optometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4100 Personal Services Hair Now Styling Salon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-5665 Pet Services Monte Vista Veterinary Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1100 Pet Suites Inn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .432-7387 Rodie’s Feed and Pet Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4600 Real Estate and Mortgage Services French, Lynne - Windermere Real Estate . . . . . .672-8787 Klock, Leigh - Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212-5593 Laurence, Pete - RE/MAX Realty . . . . . . . . . . . .890-6004 Lopez, Stephanie - Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . .932-7329 Mazzei, Matt -Mazzei Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-0757 Vujnovich, George - Better Homes Realty . . . . .672-4433 Recreation and Fitness All Out Sports League . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .203-5626 Clayton Valley Bowl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-4631 Levity Fitness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .890-6931 Senior Services CourtYards at Pine Creek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-3900 Diamond Terrace Senior Retirement Living . . . . .524-5100 Services, Other Ararat Exterminators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-7020 Computers USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9989 Net Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6029 Recycling Center & Transfer Station . . . . . . . . . .473-0180 Specialty Shops Blessed Brides by Sarah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1200 Step Into Comfort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2276 Travel Cruise Adventures Unlimited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .935-7447 Worship Clayton Valley Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-3397 Holiday Guide Clayton Furniture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .686-2299 Divine Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .349-9490 Earthquake Arabians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .360-7454 Fall Faire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.contracostafair.com Postal Annex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-5246 R&M Pool, Patio, Gift & Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0207 The Royal Rooster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2025 Vintage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vintagetrio.com
Kindness Do the Right Thing
Page 6
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Evans,
Happy Thanksgiving
from page 1 “Government was always a part of my life,” he says. “There is a need for people to get involved if they are inclined to do so.” Evans taught English at Pittsburg High School for three years before teaching overseas in Japan, where he met and married his wife, Elaine. They transferred to Germany and had two children. In 1964, they returned to the United States and moved to Clayton so their oldest child could attend kindergarten and learn, ironically, English. Evans resumed teaching at Pittsburg High School until he retired in 1991. But both Evans and his wife didn’t stop their other work: serving the people of Clayton. “Chuck and Elaine have been long-serving members of our Clayton community,” Pierce says. “They are an example of the kind of volunteer commitment that has made our community strong.”
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LOOKING FORWARD Evans has a frail frame, but a firm handshake. One can imagine him as a retired English professor, with his neatly trimmed beard, wavy, white hair and wirerimmed glasses. But he has not retired from supporting Clayton’s goals. In regards to the current controversy over a church development in the downtown, Evans is adamant in his opposition. “Clayton is zoned for anything but a church,” he says. “I can’t see any reason to change that.” Since a church complex would not generate taxes to the city, it would conflict with one of the goals of the General Plan – “to create and maintain an expanded tax base for the city.” The greatest challenge for Clayton, Evans says, has always been financial – to raise “the income (and keep) moving ahead with the vision.”
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November 11, 2011
Obituary
Earl Leonard Duncan August 14, 1925 – October 19, 2011 A descendant of two of the longest established families in the Clayton Valley, Earl Leonard Duncan passed away last month. The retired firefighter, 86, was surrounded by family including his wife of 63 years, Helene Heuer Duncan, “in a room overflowing with love.” Earl Duncan was the son of Helen Frank, daughter of Joseph and Nancy “Tib” Smith Frank, and Bernard “Bernie” McKinley Duncan, son of Jack Duncan. Both the Frank and Duncan families have lived in Clayton for nearly 150 years. Earl Duncan’s grandfather, Jack Duncan, built “The Growler” on Main St. in the 1870s, originally as a home for his sister. The Growler, which was eventually put together with the building next door to make its current structure, was over the years a store with a Shell gas pump, a saloon (The Growler), La Cocotte restaurant and now Moresi’s Chophouse. A huge turnout at Endeavor Hall for Earl Duncan’s Celebration of Life Oct. 24 heard stories from his two daughters, three granddaughters and friends about a man Clayton Museum curator Mary Spryer called, “a hoot and a great guy who we will really miss.” A fire truck was parked in front of Endeavor Hall and the fireman’s bell ceremony concluded the service for the overflow crowd. The family was delighted to have the service in Endeavor
Hall since that is where Earl performed in his elementary school plays. He never lost his ability to perform – whether it was telling stories or jokes to anyone who would listen or giving referees at his granddaughter’s sports events the “what for” if he didn’t agree with their decisions. Earl Duncan grew up on the family ranch at what is now the corner of Clayton Rd. and Ygnacio Valley Rd. The family barn was located at the exact spot where Guadalajara Grill is located and it was there he took great pride in his three cows, especially the one he called “Rooney,” his first true love. He enjoyed bringing his family to the restaurant and they would sit in the spot where he said he milked his cows as a youth. He graduated from Mt. Diablo High School in 1943 and that year enlisted in the Navy. He fought for three years in World War II, traveling as far as
Mayor, from page 1 Grove park. This is a great tribute, costs the city next to nothing and will be a great addition to an already great park. TEN, NINE, EIGHT… Clayton Counts Down is coming and we need volunteers and donations to help put on this event that costs you nothing and is a great family event. This will be our ninth annual, it runs from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, and each year we seem to get more and more people coming. So contact City Hall and volunteer for a couple of hours and you will still get home in time to party like a rock star if you desire. TECHNOLOGY CATCH UP
City Hall is finally going to get taking us out of the Commodore 64 era and on par with the computing capacity most of our eighth graders already have. Seriously, our computers are approximately two decades old (okay, 7 to 10 years) now and have been coaxed and prodded and duct taped to last as long as they have. But they are
outdated, slow and unable to operate newer operating systems and programs. So we have approved the upgrade to give our staff the ability to serve all of you more effectively and efficiently. We will also apparently be the last building/home in Clayton to get WiFi. And no, staff will not be playing “Halo” or other online games with their new computers. FAQS AT CITY HALL Did you ever wonder what the code is for garbage container, boat, RV, car on blocks storage on property? Well, within the next 30 days we should have an informational brochure on various code requirements that we get the most questions on at City Hall. It will include many of those questions you all have regarding your neighbors habits (because we all know your yard is perfectly maintained). It will hopefully help keep city harmony before things get out hand. So look for that on our website and at City Hall. Clayton, doing more for less.
the Philippines. In 1948 he married his best friend Helene Heuer, whom he had met on a family camping trip when he was 12 and she was 14. After 10 years living in Alameda and Hayward while Earl was a hod carrier the Concord Fire Department came across Earl’s application and he moved his family to Concord to pursue a career as a firefighter. Helene and Earl had two daughters, Christine and Katherine (Kitty). His fellow firefighters gave him the nickname “Earl the Pearl” because they said he was a true gem. Following his retirement he spent time with his family cooking, gardening, folk dancing, hunting, attending every school and sports event his grand daughters were involved in and taking numerous trips, especially to Disneyland, and cruises. He and Helene went fishing in Alaska as often as they could. He is survived by his wife, Helene; daughters and sons-inlaw, Christine and Alan Lambert and Kitty and Dan Olavarri; siblings, Barbara Sickenberger, Glen Duncan (Judy) and Lloyd Duncan (Al); grandchildren, Jennifer Dormer (Jason), Kimberly Lambert and Michelle Olavarri and great grandson Owen Dormer. Memorials can be made in his memory to the American Kidney Foundation or the American Lung Association.
CLAYTON NEEDS TLC And finally, our Trails and Landscape Committee has finished its annual report for 201011. This is on our website and you can see what your taxes did to keep our city looking good. Remember, this committee was established as part of the passing of the Measure B parcel tax. This citizen oversight committee meets as needed to ensure the funds are used as needed and as you desire. And guess what, it needs volunteers as members term out. So get involved, join the committee and make sure it is done right. If you don’t get involved, it cuts into your credibility when you complain that it was done wrong later, but I know you would never do that. To start and close in honor, to quote from our modern day Thomas Edison, Steve Jobs, “Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.” And another, “Your time is limited . . . have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” Email me at shuey@rankinlaw.com.
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November 11, 2011
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Letters to the Editor Response to church ad In their full page advertisement in the last issue of the Pioneer, Clayton Community Church stated that there had never been a formal offer to purchase the property on Main Street and that the pastor had “never turned down any offers either verbally or publicly.” This is incorrect. On December 16, 2006, after learning of the church’s plans to purchase the property, the city manager and two coun-
cil members met with Shawn Robinson and several members of the church and offered to purchase the property (“flip” it) for the $1.4 million they paid plus a premium of 10 percent. The council scheduled a closed session for December 19 to approve the plan should it be accepted. Robinson communicated that he had no interest in selling, so the city made no written offer. The city also notified the seller that it would make a back-up offer should
Armed robbers hit Shop and Go market The two black males wearing black hoodies over skeleton masks and gloves held up the Shop and Go market on Clayton Road Sunday night. Both men were armed with black semi-automatic handguns. The two men entered the store about 9:15. One of the men grabbed a customer who was leaving the store forcing him to the floor, taking his wallet and cell phone. The other robber dropped a bag on the counter and demanded the cash from the register. They left the store on foot, running toward the old Blockbuster store across the street. K-9 units from Walnut Creek tracked the two men to the middle of the Clayton
Station parking lot where they lost the scent. “This is consistent with them getting in a vehicle and driving off,” notes Clayton PD Sgt. Tim Marchut. Shop and Go owner Harry Dyal was unsure of the amount taken but said it wasn’t very much since the clerk had placed the day’s receipts in the safe around 6 p.m. Police are trying to determine if the robbery is connected to one about 25 minutes earlier on Solano Way in Concord. Those robbers were also described as two black males wearing masks and gloves. This was the first time the store has been held up in the more than 15 years that Dyal has owned it.
School administrator arrested in Clayton on child porn charge A Clayton man was arrested last week on charges of possessing child pornography, according to Nov. 3 article by Robert Solonga in the Contra Costa Times. Walnut Creek police arrested Steven Shields, 43, an assistant superintendent in the Vacaville Unified School District, after a
search of his Dana Hills home, said the Times article. The material was found on his personal laptop, not on any of his work computers and there is no evidence that any children were victimized. Shields is being held at the Martinez Jail on $20,000 bail and is on paid administrative leave from the school district.
the church deal fall through. I confirmed these events with former mayor Bill Walcutt. The council minutes and the letter are public information. At the October 2007 CBCA meeting, Flora Square developer Uzoma Nwakuche made a public statement of interest in purchasing the property from the church and followed it with an email (I have a copy) to Robinson saying “we’re willing to offer a premium on the ($1.4 million) in a formal offer and I await your response.” Unlike the CCC, most people wouldn’t characterize the city’s actions as “passing comments,” nor Komgold’s written email proposal as “an inquiry.” - Marlyn Hadley Lost and found it Last month on a Saturday evening my husband Ray went on his daily walk around the neighborhood and found a wallet containing over $800 in cash, credit cards and identification. I asked him what he was going to do. I always have known that my husband is a very honest person with a great heart, but his answer made even more proud of him. “I couldn’t find the owner’s phone number, but I found his brother’s in Oregon and I already called him!” Ten minutes later, the owner of the wallet came to our house to pick up his wallet and it turned out that he was on vacation from Oregon visiting some friends in Clayton. He of course, was happy to get his wallet back! Not even for a second did my husband doubt what he was supposed to do. I’m very proud of his honesty, and it’s given my children a good example of being honest and a good citizen. - A.D. Metrock Name-calling in letter to editor? I believe the Pioneer has truly become a wonderful asset to the Clayton community, and includes many forms of input from many citizens and contributors, nearly always with a tone of care, politeness, and concern for the future of Clayton on its community. So it was not a surprise to
Page 7
read the article about the need to stop bullying for our kids’ sake by Stephanie Ho in the October 14 edition. Her points about the need to stop bullying in the schools and in daily life was carefully written and included ways to help reduce bullying by creating policies to address “name-calling, bullying, and harassment.” Sadly, Ms. Ho’s point about the prevalence of bullying and name-calling was shown perfectly by the Clayton Pioneer’s publishing of a letter in the same issue in which the writer called teachers and their union officials “thugs.” Perhaps the schools’ efforts in Clayton to reduce bullying in students would be more effective and valid if a policy against name-calling could be applied to the Pioneer’s publishing policies for adults and all contributors. Valid concerns and points can be made without bullying and name-calling, so a published policy regarding the protocol of letters and articles might prevent such behavior in such a fine source of information and community support. This is not a freedom of speech issue, it is an issue of morality and civic manners. - John Marvin We disagree. The word “thug” represented a point of view. Unless they contain profanity, obscenities or offensive language, we do not censor Letters to the Editor. -Ed.
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2118 Mt. Diablo St., Concord Tue-Fri:
Climate changes don’t affect just you; they also affect your car. Even though we don’t live in an area that has severe winters, you still wouldn’t want to walk outside without a coat when temperatures reach into the 30s. Your car also needs basic attention to get ready for lower temperatures and the wet roads you might encounter this winter, especially if you drive your car into the mountains. Preparing your car for the colder months might not sound like a typical law enforcement issue. However, being stranded at night in the cold, or getting into an accident, is not pleasant or safe for you and your family. The following are some easy steps to properly prepare your car for winter. Remember the old adage: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Check your windshield wipers and replace if the rubber is broken or damaged. Ensure that your windshield washer fluid reservoir is full. Use a washer fluid with an antifreeze solution. Check your tires for proper inflation and ensure that there is adequate trend depth on all of your vehicle’s tires. Make certain that your tires are designed for wet road conditions. Some performance tires are designed and
DAN LAWRENCE
FROM
THE
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intended for dry road conditions only, and are not recommended for wet conditions. Your car’s engine coolant is not only intended to keep your engine from overheating, it is also responsible for protecting your engine against corrosion. Ensure that your car’s coolant has a 50 percent coolant to 50 percent water. This ratio should be sufficient for our winters and an occasional trip into the mountains. Check the coolant hoses and drive belts for age and wear. Your car’s battery capacity is reduced by cold weather. A thorough inspection of your battery, cables, terminals and fluids will help make sure your car is ready for winter. If you don’t already have an emergency kit in your car, consider putting together a few
basic items and stow them in the trunk. Some items to consider are: flares, blankets, flashlight, gloves and some basic tools. Make sure your car’s spare is inflated and in good condition. If you plan to travel to the mountains you’ll usually see the “Chain Law” go into effect on mountain passes. The California Highway Patrol can require chains on any roadway that encounters dangerous winter travel. Some vehicles may not be required to use chains under all conditions, but all vehicles (including 4-wheel drive) must carry chains while driving in the mountains during the winter months (California Vehicle Code 27460). Performing some of these preventative procedures might be beyond your skill, capability or comfort level. If this is the case, make an appointment to have your service center or auto repair shop winterize your car for you. By planning ahead, you can make winterizing your vehicle an annual ritual in the name of safety and vehicle reliability.
Dan Lawrence is Clayton’s Police Chief. Please send your questions, comments or topics you’d like to see covered to DanL@cpd.ci. concord.ca.us
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Polite Disagreement and The Truth on this Important Issue for Clayton Citizens The Oct. 28 Pioneer contained a full page ad from the Clayton Community Church (CCC) saying that the recent letters on the Town Center land usage debate were “personal attacks,” “accusations,” and “misrepresentations.” Also, I have been told by an attendee, that the Pastor amazingly even told his entire congregation last Sunday that the letters were “all lies.” After reading and re-reading them, I can tell you that the letters in the August 26 and October 14 issues were not attacks and were not lies; they were just verifiable facts upon the subject that the public deserves to know. There were indeed two offers made to the CCC on the commercial parcel, and the only reason they were not put into a written contract is because the Pastor rebuffed them. In real estate, a “contract” must be in writing, but many real estate sales often start out with verbal offerings. Also, there indeed were multiple commercial offers (5) on the Flora Square land when the city of Clayton put it up for sale. There were also multiple commercial offers on the Creekside property. All this commercial interest and offering indicates that when the economy comes back again, the Town Center Specific Plan will indeed be able to be carried out with Clayton able to have the commercial/retail as has been planned. The TCSP does indeed state that Main Street is to be a shopping street on both sides, meaning clearly that any assembly hall usage if the City were to approve yet another one, would be elsewhere – not on this or any other Main Street parcel. Also this is not a new requirement, it has been in the TCSP at least since 1990. From what the Pastor and his CCC members say and write, the truthfulness of the letters they criticize, far exceeds, that which they put into their full page advertisement. Thank you, Pete Laurence Former city councilmember and mayor
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Page 8
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
November 11, 2011
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With the welcome distraction of Halloween now passed, save for the residual sugar buzz, there is frighteningly little standing between Clayton seniors and a slew of college application deadlines. The date for the University of California system is but a few Kit Kats and a turkey leg away, and most private schools are only a couple of sugar cookies after that. The pressure has increased with the time crunch, making even more difficult the already, in my opinion, most trying aspect of the application process: the personal statement. Essentially a fluffed-up summary of an idealized version of yourself, not only must one attempt to figure out who they are during arguably the most confusing and transitional stage in life, but do so beautifully and effectively enough to make yourself appealing in 500 words or less. Add homework, extracurricular activities and a social life into the mix and the idea of devoting time to soul
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TEEN SPEAK searching becomes an even greater hurdle to clear – never mind actually taking the time to write down what you conclude. Even if you are among the lucky few who feel fairly confident in your idea of yourself, managing to squeeze that image onto less than a page without losing any of the effect is indisputably a challenging task. Personally, I’d pick writing a full-fledged autobiography or memoir over attempting to describe the person I have become over 17 years in such a restricted manner any day. Selecting just one event or topic
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Now that fall is in full swing, things at school are finally settling down, and the month of October has come to an end. Thanks to the ASB Leadership, teachers and staff, CVHS has formally welcomed its students back to school with the much-anticipated Homecoming Week. Homecoming is a time most students look forward to. Each year, the school is lavishly decorated with posters and banners of the homecoming theme and school spirit is especially prevalent. Whether you enjoy Homecoming for the football games, or for the rally and the dance, there is something enjoyable for everybody. During the week of Oct. 17 - 21, the majority of students arrived at school covered in festive class colors, crazy hats or wild animal patterns for spirit dress. This year’s Homecoming theme, “Lost in Wonderland,” made for a unique and enjoyable week. The atmosphere was
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Bricks or tacos – both will help MDES Purchase your own personalized brick for the pathway in front of MDES. Reward a student for outstanding achievement, honor an alumnus or special teacher or just memorialize a moment in time. Order forms are on at www.mtdiabloelementary.mdusd.org. Prices begin at $55. Please contact Michelle Curry at michellejcurry@ sbcglobal.net or 672-1257 with
questions. Dine in or take out at El Tapatio on Wed., Nov. 16 and 20 percent of the order will be donated back to the school. The Parent Faculty Club has organized this event which runs from 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. at El Tapatio, 4633 Clayton Road, Concord, 270-3179. The fundraising flier is required and can be downloaded from the school’s website.
filled with a certain feeling of school pride as students donned their Clayton Valley apparel. On Wednesday, downtown Clayton was filled with class floats, and the senior class enjoyed pizza from Skipolini’s. During school on Friday, students attended the annual Homecoming Rally to “pump everyone up” with games and dancing. The audience applauded and cheered the performances from fellow students, teachers and the Clayton Valley cheerleaders. During the big homecoming game in the evening, enthusiastic supporters of the JV and Varsity Ugly Eagles filled in the stands. The nominees for the homecoming prince, princess, king and queen were lined up on the field. Ted Hall and Kylee Homeecillo were then crowned as the 2011 Homecoming King and Queen. Attending the game made me realize what it really means to have school spirit. The
stands and bleachers were packed tight, and the whole crowed roared like a sea of red, white and blue. While I sat with my friends and cheered for the team, I look around and saw people everywhere who honestly took pride in their school. I even found myself purchasing a Clayton Valley sweatshirt during the game, so I could show some spirit. The event just made me feel like I was a part of something. Later, I spoke with Ted Hall about his thoughts on being chosen as Homecoming King, and how he felt about school spirit. “When I was crowned king, I was really surprised and excited. It was just an awesome feeling to be on the football field and receiving such an honor. All the other candidates are great bunch of guys, but I felt so fortunate to be the one chosen.” Since homecoming week I’ve seen a huge difference in attitude from students at
ROBBIE PARKER
CVHS REPORTER school. Lots of teens may think it is lame to show pride; however, school spirit connects students to something greater than just the individual. King Ted agreed. “It’s all about getting together with your friends, dressing up on spirit days, and coming together as a community to take pride in your school.” Robbie Parker is a freshman at Clayton Valley High School. Send comments to Robbie@claytonpioneer.com
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to embody your entire life is an incredibly difficult decision, made worse by the added desire to seem unique and stand out from the thousands of other students tackling the same task. In such situations, I’ve always maintained that the best option is to stick to what you know. It was this little gem of logic that led to me choosing something rather unorthodox as the topic of my own personal statement: frosting. While I’m not planning on applying to culinary school as might be assumed by my chosen subject matter, baking has been a distinctly important and personal aspect of my life and my relationship with my family. Baking has been a constant throughout my life and has served as a teaching tool and a means of measuring my growth over the years. As a result of this sugar-coated upbringing there is nothing more familiar to me than making frosting by hand, so I took my experiences in the kitchen and poured them onto the page. The fact of the matter is that
CELINE HERRERA DVMS REPORTER Important things are happening at Diablo View Middle School The Halloween Haunted House was a fantastic hit, raising $1,850.50 to buy iPads for all the teachers. The main coordinators for this Haunted House were the PFC members Beth Barney, Carol Fouts, and Megan Kommer with help from students from the DramaMama program, Leadership, and Clayton Valley High School Students for Community Service. “My most memorable memory of the Haunted House was working with the kids as well as seeing how much fun the visitors and the workers had,” said Beth Barney. The student favorite was being chased
around with the chain saw. On October 28, students learned about hunger from a skit performed by the Contra Costa Food Bank. The skit was about a hungry teenager, his stomach “tormented” going through trash cans, stealing food. The teen was resisting help from a friend who wanted him to go to the Food bank for food. Feeling humiliated, the teen refused the food. By the end of the play he realized he doesn’t need or want to be hungry anymore and that he needs help. The Leadership class is organizing DVMS’s Annual Food Drive. The most needed items are canned good, cereal, peanut butter, powdered milk, granola bars, pasta, rice, beans, crackers, jelly, and other boxed items. To donate to the Food Bank or the Mount Diablo Unified School District’s Pantry by dropping off food donations
DIABLO VIEW STUDENTS Savanha Groebner and Kaitlyn O'Connell give out spooks and laughter at the Halloween Haunted House.
at the school’s front office. DVMS students who want to donate can give the items to their Homeroom Liaisons who will come by each day. The food drive is being held Nov. 7 – 16. The top donating homeroom will receive a special breakfast
and if the school reaches its goal of 2,800 items collected by the deadline, the entire school will have no homework that night! Celine Herrera is an eighthgrader at DVMS. Send comments to. Celine@claytonpioneer.com.
November 11, 2011
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com
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No ‘Buyer’s Market’ in our area Q. I keep hearing phrases such as “ it is a great time to buy,” “it is a buyer’s market,” etc. Does it really matter that much when a person buys or sells? A. I agree that it is a great time to buy but you might be surprised to know that we aren’t in a buyer’s market in our area. A buyer’s market is when there is more than a six-month inventory of homes available. This is figured by how long the current inventory would take to sell if no new homes came on the market. There is a formula to figure this. If it is less than a sixmonth supply it is getting into a seller’s market. At this time in the Clayton Valley we have less than a three-month inventory. It is a great time to buy
lynne FrenCH
ReaL answeRs because homes are the most affordable than they have been in decades. This is from an index that measures income and other factors to home prices and interest rates. A fellow Windermere Real Estate Agent, Dan Givens, from Seattle shared some inter-
esting statistics that he came up with. I feel this is a very conservative example for our area. Ours would be more dramatic in most cases. A $400,000 house today might have cost $642,650 in September 2006. The difference is $242,650. We are using these figures for the following scenario. Using the above home prices and interest rate of 4.13 percent (high at this time), the monthly payment today would be $1,939.76 and in September 2006 it would have been $4,024.02 — a difference of $2,084.26 per month. The $2,084.26 per month savings adds up to a total of $750,333 when multiplied over the term of a 30 year loan.
If a buyer took out a 30-year loan at the 4.13 percent interest rate but made the same monthly payments as the buyer in 2006 ($4,024.02), the loan would be paid off in just over 10 years. The buyer in 2006 would have 20 years more payments. There are other things to consider, of course, in a decision to buy but this compelling example should help with your timing. Send your question and look for your answer in a future column. Email Lynne@LynneFrench.com. French is the broker/owner of Windermere Lynne French & Associates and a Clayton resident. For any real estate needs or questions, contact her at 672-878 7or stop in at 6200 Center St., Clayton.
More food for thought about exercise [Editor’s Note: This is the second of a two-part series.] Learning the role food plays in aiding your body before, during and after a workout is paramount to achieving your goal. For advanced to moderate exercisers proper nutrition is essential to increase and maintain performance. For most people, it holds true that with a pre-exercise snack, the body simply performs better. Here are a few ideas that handle your needs. Eat a small (100- to 200-calorie) snack about 30 minutes before you work out. A fast-digesting (high glycemic index) carbohydrate with very little fat (which digests slowly) is ideal. You should digest the meal quickly and the fuel is available during your exercise session. Here are some suggestions: Fruit juice Fruit smoothie High-glycemic fruits like pineapple, apricots, banana, mango, and watermelon Sports drinks Pretzels or bagels (but not
whole grain varieties, which digest slowly) Energy bars (look for 3-5 grams of protein, at least 15 grams of carbs, and very little fat) Eat a nutritionally balanced meal one to two hours before your exercise. This is the best option for many people. The larger the meal, and the more fat and protein it contains, the longer you may need to wait before exercising. Try to eat enough calories to equal about half the calories you expect to burn during your upcoming workout. So if you burn about 600 calories during your workout, aim for at least 300 calories during this meal — or a little more if your exercise is “high intensity” (more than 75 percent of your maximum heart rate). At least 50 percent of these calories should come from carbohydrates, which should keep your blood sugar and energy levels fairly stable during your exercise session. Try including some protein to help prevent the breakdown of muscle for fuel and give your muscles a
Charter, from page 1 their efforts to sway board members to their side. Charter proponents in their signature blue T-shirts, squeezed in beside those opposing the charter, while students from Northgate and Ygnacio Valley High Schools stood in the back with poster board signs decrying the petition. Finally, after nearly two hours of input from the public, Board Member Cheryl Hansen moved that the board “not be
afraid of change and approve the charter petition without conditions.” The motion failed in a 3-2 vote, with Cheryl Hansen and Lynne Dennler voting to approve and Gary Eberhart, Sherry Whitmarsh and Linda Mayo voting to deny. The denial allows the charter petitioners to move forward with an appeal to the County Board of Education. The county is required to hold a public hearing no later
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head start on recovery after exercise. Some good food choices and combinations for this kind of meal include: Fruit and yogurt Nuts Oatmeal Cereals (with more than 3 grams of fiber) and milk Trail mix with nuts and dried fruit Hummus and raw veggies Hard boiled eggs (or egg whites) Cottage cheese and fruit Half a peanut butter or turkey/chicken sandwich on whole grain bread Whole grain crackers with
than 30 days following the appeal and make its decision within 60 days of the filing. One 30-day extension is allowed if both sides agree. People on both sides of the issue noted the especially acrimonious nature of the debates. “I think it’s so sad that the communities are being pitted against each other,” said Clayton resident Susan Safipour, addressing the board. “If there is anything you can do to unite the district and bring back the power of community, it would be a good thing.”
As a consistent exerciser, you have a lot of flexibility when it comes to timing your meals and choosing your foods. The most important things are getting to know your body and how it responds to exercise, so that you can give it what it needs to perform at its best. Eating the right foods at the right times before you work out is essential to keeping your energy up, your workout performance high, and your body in fat-burning mode.
Chase Davenport, a School Development and Support official with the California Charter Schools Association, noted that “this has gone from one of the thickest conditional approvals I’ve seen – 56 conditions – to one of the thinnest recommendations for denial.” Charter petitioners plan to file the appeal this week. “They’ve made a decision that’s allowed us to move on,” said Clayton Mayor and charter supporter Dave Shuey. “At least with the county we can get a fair shake.”
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November 11, 2011
Clayton Sports CYO cross country team has ‘great’ first season JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
St. Bonaventure CYO began a cross country program this fall under the direction of long-time track coach Joe Sullivan and the veteran couldn’t be happier with the results his harriers produced. He explained, “We had our first and last meets on the same course at Joaquin Miller Park in the Oakland Hills and every single runner who competed in both events improved their time – one by as much as nearly three minutes!” Boding well for the future of the program the strongest age groups for St. Bonaventure were in the third through fifth grade divisions for both boys and girls. Fourth grader Sydney Kupsh was the team’s top individual finisher at the season-ending Oakland Diocese meet with a fifth place in the third-fifth grade girls run with a 7:22.35 time. Kupsh won the 1600 meters at the Diocese track meet last spring as a third grader. The St. Bonaventure girls team included Kupsh, Piper Christensen, Skylar Aldridge and Malia Latu as they were sixth overall among the 26 CYO teams entered in their age group. The St. Bonaventure boys in the same grades finished in the top half of
Photo courtesy St. Bonaventure CYO
THE BRAND NEW ST. BONAVENTURE CYO CROSS COUNTRY TEAM made giant strides this fall. The team included, front row from left, coach Danny Sullivan, Dolly Latu, Sydney Kupsh, Tilema Latu, Malia Latu; middle row, Claire Smithey, Aaron Capinpin, Braden Hart, Jason Rogers, Johnny McCluhan, Jackson Hart, Parker Christensen, Danielle Cordova, Alex Garcia; back row, Kimberly Rizon, Christian Utne, Kennedy Rizon, Joseph Tuano, Bethany O’Connor, Michael Fregosi, Sarah Carrico, Piper Christensen, Skylar Aldridge and coach Joe Sullivan.
Domenic Mazza places in top 24 at 2011 World Long Drive Championship Although he wasn’t able to match last year’s runner-up finish Domenic Mazza still came in among the top 24 at the Re/Max World Long Drive Championship last week in Mesquite, Nev. The 17-year-old senior at Clayton Valley High School fell one yard short of moving into the 12th round of the finals when his 383-yard drive was only good for fifth place in round 10 behind the fourth-place mark of 384. That drive was his longest recorded over the three days he competed in Mesquite. Englishman Joe Miller, who defeated Mazza in last year’s finals, was eliminated the next day in the semi-finals. Mazza and Miller got automatic berths in the World Championships based on their 2010 results. Mazza’s top drives in earlier rounds as he advanced were 380,
365,326 and 366. Mazza plays golf right-handed. He figures to be one of the mainstays of the CVHS baseball team this coming spring where he pitches left-handed. The Concord youngster turned down over $70,000 in prize money at last year’s long drive competition so that he could maintain his amateur status for high school and college sports. Pro Dave DeLong of Boundary Oak Golf Course has been training Mazza and says he has definitely picked up speed on his golf swing this year but that in a competition like the Long Drive Championships many factors come into play during the elimination rounds. He adds, “Domenic is still so young competing against seasoned pros. People are amazed when they see him swing.”
ALL OUT SPORTS LEAGUE
New Clayton Coyotes 10 under AA baseball team a hit from the start JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
The Clayton Coyotes 10 under AA travel baseball team made a big impact in its first season with a pair of runner-up tournament finishes propelling the new team of players from Clayton Valley Little League and Jr. Optimist Baseball near the top of the Northern California USSSA rankings. Formed this summer following the spring youth baseball season, the Coyotes compete against many year-round travel teams. Manager Ryan Covalt and his coaches worked with the team from July through this month and will be holding tryouts in April or May for next season. “True travel teams play year round. There are a lot of teams that do play year round but we do not. We would like to expand our season to more games between July and November next year but I haven’t yet decided if I want to go year round,” Covalt explains. The team’s tournaments this year were similar. At the Back to
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CLAYTON COYOTES 10 UNDER AA TEAM earned a pair of runnerup tournament finishes in their first season of travel baseball. The team includes bottom row from left, Charlie Pesmark, Eric Zimmer, Joseph Course, Seth Gwynn, Ryan Muniz, Joey Wheeler; top row, coach Eric Enos, Chase Graves, Jake Enos, Clayton Mahloch, Mason Covalt, manager Ryan Covalt, Braulio Martin, Quinton Mahloch and coach Kevin Zimmer.
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School Challenge in Fremont the Coyotes upset the No. 1 seed Petaluma Impact 9-7 to reach the finals before losing to Norcal Storm from Redwood Shores in the championship game 12-3. The Harvest Classic at Twin Creeks complex saw the Coyotes play two games on Saturday and then three on Sunday as they battled to reach the finals again. This time they ended up again facing Petaluma and this time the Impact came out on top 6-1. “The boys accomplished feats generally only obtained by more seasoned teams. They finished runner-up in two consecutive tournaments and are ranked fifth out of 58 registered teams in Northern California and 10th in region 5.” Covalt said. The Coyotes roster includes Charlie Pesmark, Eric Zimmer, Joseph Course, Seth Gwynn, Ryan Muniz, Joey Wheeler, Chase Graves, Jake Enos, Clayton Mahloch, Mason Covalt, Braulio Martin and Quinton Mahloch. The players were selected by the coaching staff and represent some of the top 8 to 10 year old boys in the Clayton area. “A tradi-
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the 25 teams as Jackson Hart and Braden Hart claimed top times among the Bulldogs. Sarah Carrico led the way for the St. Bonnies sixth-eighth grade girls while Christian Utne was the leader for the older boys. In its first year St Bonaventure was one of only 15 CYO teams to provide scoring squads in each of the four age brackets at the Diocese cross country meet. “It was a great season. The runners improved their form and speed and generally had a good time,” Sullivan said. “I think it was a great confidence builder for everyone. One of the things I was especially gratified seeing were our kids cheering for all the runners from all the different teams.” Sullivan thanked Joanne McCluhan, Kristen Kupsh, Chris Hart and his son Danny Sullivan for helping all season with the new program. The head coach, who ran the St. Bonaventure track and field program for 15 years, also lauded Caitlyn O’Connor for helping at all the practices. “She is 16 and a very good runner. She was a great role model for the younger runners, especially the girls.” Sullivan summed up his feelings: “It was a wonderful experience and a definite plus for St. Bonaventure CYO.”
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Page 11
Clayton Sports wins in a season. His coach says, “Christo has raised his game to be one of the best in the league and in the area.” Lopez wants to follow in the footsteps of recent CVHS players to a college water polo career but first will swim for the Eagles next spring and do more work on the stage. He also plays on the 680 Drivers club water polo team.
Athlete Spotlight Name: Christo Lopez Age: 17 Team: CVHS Water Polo Sports: Water Polo, Swimming When Christo Lopez was in middle school he tried out for a part in “High School Musical.” Much to his dismay he was cast as Ryan the “razzle dazzle dork”—very different than his self-image as a jock. He eventually accepted the role, fell in love with acting and enrolled in
the Clayton Valley Arts Academy at Clayton Valley High School, which has opened many opportunities for him away from the swimming pool. In the water he’s excelled as senior captain of the undefeated DVAL league and tournament champion Eagles water
polo team. Lopez plays in the utility role for coach Craig Johnson’s team and scored 106 goals, had 44 assists and 24 steals prior to CVHS North Coast Section playoff games where he and goalie Taylor Wingard hope to lead the Eagles to a school record for
The Clayton Pioneer congratulates Christo Lopez and rewards his achievement with a gift certificate to Rocco’s Ristorante & Pizzeria. Do you know a young athlete who should be recognized? Perhaps he or she has shown exceptional sportsmanship, remarkable improvement or great heart for the sport. Send your nomination for the Rocco’s Pioneer Athlete Spotlight today to sports@claytonpioneer.com.
Creative costumes mix with soccer at Halloween Kick or Treat tournament JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
There was a lot more going on than just soccer on the field over the Halloween weekend at the 13th annual Halloween Kick or Treat Classic hosted by Diablo FC. The record field of 108 teams not only enjoyed two days of soccer but they competed in the annual costume contest with prizes awarded for the scariest, most creative, funniest and most original creations for boys and girls teams in the under 9 through U11 age groups. The host club’s girls teams did well in both competitions. Coach Dean Weisz and his Diablo FC 00 U11 girls got honorable mention for their green zombie costumes—-including the coach—while winning the top ranked Black Cats Division championship on the soccer field. Diablo FC 01 girls reached the U10 finals of the Witches Division and also were named most creative costumes for their cave women look among all 108 teams. The U9 girls team, Diablo FC 02, also made it to the championship finals in the Ravens Division giving Diablo FC a clean sweep of finalist positions for its girls gold division teams. The U11 girls won two games on Saturday to reach the semi-finals where they played the Mustang Legends and came out on top 2-1. That put Diablo FC 00 in the finals against another top club and they defeated San Clara Sporting 00
COMMITS TO COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
Senior Joe Moita of De La Salle High School will be joining his older brother Vince wrestling in the Ivy League next year. The younger Moita, a two-time North Coast Section champion for the Spartans, has announced he will attend Columbia University in New York City. Joe Moita finished fourth in the 2010 California State Meet and also won a pair of junior national titles in 2009 wrestling for the Community Youth Center. He had considered Stanford, Duke and Pennsylvania in addition to Columbia, where he will join another former DLS wrestler, Luke Sheridan. Vince Moita wrestles for Brown University in Rhode Island.
JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
Clayton’s Kristian Ipsen returned from Guadalajara, Mexico with a silver medal in the three-meter synchronized diving event with his partner Troy Dumais but also with the disappointment of not winning individual gold in the 3M springboard, which would have earned the United States another berth in the event at next summer’s London Olympics where Ipsen hopes to compete for the United States in two events. Dumais and Ipsen finished behind the home country duo of Yahel Castillo and Julian Sanchez in synchro. The American pair was waging a close battle with the Mexicans until the fourth dive when they faltered and fell behind. After that subpar performance Dumais and Ipsen rebounded with their highest score on the next dive but weren’t able to close the gap. Cuba finished third in the competition. The synchro event was on the opening day of diving at the XVI Pan American Games featuring the top athletes from the Western Hemisphere in a multisport competition. Of most importance to the American men’s team was winning the individual 3M springboard. The USA earned one Olympic 3M berth with the fifth-place finish by Dumais at
the 2011 FINA World Championships in Shanghai. The Pan Am champion would also gain a Beth for his country. Knowing that it was first place or bust, both Ipsen and the other American competing, Drew Livingston of Texas, scheduled the most difficult dives in the completion to try and rack up enough points for the gold medal. Each was unable to successfully complete their most difficult dive and eventually finished sixth and 10th, respectively. Of his key dive Ipsen said, “I knew if a wanted to have a chance to win I had to take the risk and do the triple out (a front 2-1/2 with three twists, a 3.9 degree of difficulty dive— the most difficult of any competitor). Even though it didn’t pay off I’m glad I took the chance. It was a good learning experience in a pressure situation and it will help me down the road.” Castillo and Sanchez ended up with the gold and silver medals in the event. The Americans will have one more chance next February at the World Cup in London to gain that second Olympic berth 3M berth. Ipsen’s coach Phil Tonne was on the American Pan Am team coaching staff. Before leaving for Mexico Ipsen competed in his first college meet for Stanford and swept the one- and three-meter springboard competitions over visiting Hawaii.
Photos courtesy Diablo FC
THE DIABLO FC 01 GIRLS MADE IT TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH of the 13th annual Halloween Kick or Treat Classic before losing the finale to Union City Premier but they had already winners. The team of cave women and caveman coach was named Most Creative in the costume contest held in conjunction with the local tournament that drew a record number of 108 teams this year. The under 10 girls team from host Diablo FC includes, kneeling from left, Kelly Kern, Carissa Capinpin, Grace Wenger, Allie Hair, Courtney Silva, Kaleigh Jai Colchico; standing, coach Miguel Gonzalez, Carly Oshel, Vanessa Castillo, Sophia Salimpour (squatting), Darby Dresdow, Julia Betti, Brianna Murray and Aaron Silva. Not pictured, Analisa Rivera.
Green in a penalty kick shootout after playing to a tie in the championship game and overtime. Their sister team, Diablo FC 00 Blue, competed in the Pumpkins Division but failed to advance to the finals. In under 10 girls coach Miguel Gonzalez and his cave women stood out with their costumes and did quite well playing soccer too. They won three con-
Sports Shorts CLAYTON WRESTLER
Ipsen, partner win diving silver medal at Pan Am Games
STILL TIME FOR CLAYTON GYM WINTER YOUTH VOLLEYBALL SIGN-UPS All Out Sports League is still taking sign-ups for winter volleyball at Clayton Community Gym. The winter basketball program is full. The non-competitive volleyball program includes stretching, training and games with everyone playing. The seven-week season runs Dec. 3 through Jan. 28. Visit alloutsportsleague-clayton.com for more details.
DFC U8 ACADEMY WINTER SOCCER PROGRAM COMING
The 11th annual Diablo FC Winter Soccer Academy is now accepting registrations. The program for boys and girls 5-12 years of age is held Jan. 6-Feb. 16 on
secutive games in strong fashion by a combined 12-2 score before losing to Union City Premier Tops in the finals 3-0. The youngest competitive team in Diablo FC the 02 girls won two and drew one to qualify for the U9 championship match where they fell to West Coast SC Fury. Diablo FC 02 has also enjoyed a successful fall league season.
In the boys divisions U11 Diablo FC 00 lost a tiebreaker to move into the finals after they finished with two wins and a draw. Diablo FC 01 had a win, a draw and a loss in its three U10 games while the younger Diablo FC 02 squad fell one goal short of reaching the U9 championship game after winning two of three matches.
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Mondays and Thursdays from 5-6 p.m. at Willow Pass Park in Concord. Camp Director Brian Voltattorni says the Academy is a developmental soccer program that teaches basic dribbling, juggling, passing and shooting skills to players of all ability levels from novice to players on competitive teams. For complete details and to register visit diablofc.org.
LOCAL GIRLS TRAVELING VOLLEYBALL TEAM TRYOUTS SUNDAY
The Blaze girls traveling volleyball team is taking registrations for tryouts for its 2012 season. Girls 11 to 18 years old are invited to tryout this Sunday, Nov. 13, from 5:308:30 p.m. at Clayton Community Gym. Tryouts are $20 per player and open to anyone. The team is sponsored by All Out Sports League and will practice at the Clayton gym on Sunday mornings.
The team coached by Shauna Reed will play in tournaments throughout Northern California and Nevada. For tryout and team information contact coach Reed at shauna@reedbsi.com or visit alloutsportsleague-clayton.com.
SPRING SIGNUPS OPEN FOR MT. DIABLO SOCCER Mt. Diablo Soccer is breaking from tradition and opening up signups for its spring program this month. Players who participated in the just-completed fall season are charged only $50 for spring. Boys and girls 3-1/2 to 18 years of age can take part. Under 12 and older divisions in spring league are co-ed. Spring league ends in mid-May and is generally less formal than fall with players getting the opportunity to play soccer without any postseason playoff pressure. Registration is now being taken online at mdsoccer.org.
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
November 11, 2011
Clayton Sports Commercial & Residential
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teaching pro at Boundary Oak while their uncle is also a pro and has helped them as well. “They really enjoyed the camaraderie on the golf team, which they’ve gotten from other sports,” their dad added. Not spending all her time on the golf course, McKenna has played soccer for Clayton Valley as well as a successful MDSA select team.
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Name: McKenna DeLong Age: 16 Team: CVHS Golf Sports: Golf, Soccer Junior McKenna DeLong said she’d go out for the Clayton Valley High School golf team for the first time this year if her incoming freshman sister Rachel did too. The sisters have played a number of sports—-soccer, basketball and lacrosse among them—-but they participated in a Nike
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Summer Series with their dad at Boundary Oak Golf Course and joined the Eagles golf team this fall. It certainly worked out well as McKenna was medalist (low scorer) recording an 81 at the Diablo Valley Athletic League meet as the Eagles won the championship and qualified as a team
for the North Coast Section Tournament of Champions for the first time in school history. Her younger sister carded an 83 at the league meet. McKenna was also the team’s low scorer at NCS TOC shooting 89 in the second time she had ever played 18 holes. The girl’s father, Dave DeLong, is a
The Clayton Pioneer congratulates McKenna DeLong and rewards her achievement with a gift certificate to Rocco’s Ristorante & Pizzeria. Do you know a young athlete who should be recognized? Perhaps he or she has shown exceptional sportsmanship, remarkable improvement or great heart for the sport. Send your nomination for the Rocco’s Pioneer Athlete Spotlight today to sports@claytonpioneer.com.
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Four of the six championship matches were decided by a single goal as the third annual season-ending Mt. Diablo Soccer World Cup played out over the Halloween weekend locally. World Cup games in the under 10, 12 and 14 age groups for boys and girls the World Cup will be featured 64 teams over three weekends narrowed down to the six championship matches. Some of the top finishers from the World Cup will represent MDSA this weekend at the Area 2C AYSO Cup with Mt. Diablo serving as one of the tournament hosts. The under 10 championships were both close affairs. Algeria edged the Netherlands 4-3 in the boys finale with Portugal third and Croatia fourth. Mernard Werner coached the winning Algeria team while the Netherlands was coached by Troy Amerine. In U10 girls the game between Norway and Slovenia went all the way to penalty kicks before Norway coached by Walt Urias won the crown. Jerry Bascom coached the runner-up Slovenia team. Egypt took third over Cameroon after a 4-3 score in the third-place game. Brian Hanson and Pete Mingham helped their Philippines team rise up as the
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Photo courtesy MDSA
THE PHILIPPINES TEAM CAME FROM A SIXTH SEED POSITION based on regular season results to win the under 12 boys division at the third annual Mt. Diablo World Cup recently. The team includes, front row from left, Jeffery Wang, Josh Brown, Milad Dehghan, John Cook, Josh Gilbert; back row, coach Pete Mingham, Logan Smith, Sinjin Speer, Tyler Hanson, Luke Mingham, Colin Cook, Austin O’Connor and coach Brian Hanson. Not pictured T.J. Martin.
sixth seed to take the U12 boys championship. They defeated Germany, coached by Joern Weigelt and Ricardo Barba, 6-3 in the finals after losing to the same team earlier in the tournament. Puerto Rico prevailed over Scotland 3-1 for third place. On the U12 girls side
Belgium squeaked by Poland 21. Pete Villa’s Belgium team edged Peter Valero’s Poland. Australia shut out Ireland 2-0 for third place. In boys U14 Paraguay lost 21 to Nicaragua and coach Elias Haddad in the finals. Rick Ortiz coached runner-up Paraguay.
Brazil was third and China fourth in the U14 boys. JC Araujo and Bill Gonsalves saw their Peru team shut out Fiji, coached by Kevin O’Leary, in the U14 girls bracket with Kenya third and Italy fourth.
November 11, 2011
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com
Page 13
House-training doesn’t need to be a big mess SUE SKIFF
PET PALS Some call it “housebreaking.” I prefer to call it “house-training.” What am I talking about? Getting the family dog to “do its business” where we want it to, of course. What is the easiest and best method for house training a dog? Instead of concentrating on teaching where not to go, teach where to go. There are two com-
ponents to this. Confine your dog in a space where it won’t want to eliminate. Dogs won’t usually mess where they eat and/or sleep, so leave your dog in a space just big enough for its food and its bed to reduce mistakes. You can use a dog crate, a small room or “fenced-off ” portion of a room. Then, regularly take your dog outside to eliminate. There are some obvious times to take your dog out, like first thing in the morning, a halfhour after the dog has had a meal and at bedtime. To determine how often to take your dog out
other than those times, consider your dog’s age. Expect that a puppy will only be able to hold it about one hour longer than the number of months old it is. So, that means you need to take a 10week old puppy out every 3 hours. For an older dog, start with taking it out every couple of hours, and pay attention to when it actually does its business. Regardless of its age, pay attention to what your individual dog’s actual schedule is. Then, you can anticipate when to take your dog outside. To get the right message across, set up a potty routine. Put
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Fire Board, from page 1 appointed to the ECCFPD board of directors to represent unincorporated areas of the district. Morgan describes her appointment as “triumphant.” “This comes from the support of all the coalition,” she says. “I thank everyone for letting me know that this is something I should do.” Morgan joins the board as it heads into a fight for its life. The district is operating on reserves and will run completely out of money by next year unless voters approve a parcel tax of $197 to go on the ballot next June. The parcel tax is in addition to the “fee-for-service” levied on rural property owners by California Assembly Bill ABX1 29 passed in June. The state fee could be as much as $150. Add the two together, and ECCFPD
taxpayers could be hit with a $347 tab for fire protection and emergency services. Morgan brings decades of experience and education to the board. She holds a PhD in education and a Masters in Business Administration. She worked on the Habitat Conservation Plan and the Marsh Creek Specific Plan and served on the board of the Economic Opportunity Council for six years. She comes from a family of ranchers that settled in the Morgan Territory valley more than 100 years ago. Her uncle Ray Morgan served as the fire chief for the East Diablo Fire Department and her father Bill Morgan served as a volunteer fireman from the early 1950s and a member of the board until 2002 ECCFPD chief Hugh
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TOWN HALL MEETING There will be a Town Hall Meeting to discuss the proposed ECCFPD parcel tax. Director Cheryl Morgan, Fire Chief Hugh Henderson will be on hand to answer questions. When: Dec. 15, 6:30 p.m. Where: Farm Bureau Hall 5554 Clayton Rd., Concord Henderson is pleased with Morgan’s appointment. “I am looking forward to working with Cheryl, she has been very involved with the District for over a year. I think she will help the District through these tough times.” For more information on ECCFPD and a schedule of board meetings, go to eccfpd.org.
the dog on a leash. Initially, carry your dog to the yard to avoid accidents along the way. Take your dog to the part of your yard you want it to use. When you get there, give your dog a command like “go potty.” Then as elimination starts, praise the dog. A treat, as the dog is finishing, will also help. Once your dog has done its business, and gotten its praise, you can allow it to play outside. The play can be part of the reward your dog gets for doing things right. When you take your dog outside, don’t wait for minutes on end for something to happen. I’ve been called for house training help by puppy guardians who seemed to be doing everything right. What I’ve always found in these cases is that they were taking their puppies outside too early. These puppies would spend too much time wandering around the yard before going to the bathroom. There was a lag between being taken outside and eliminating, so they didn’t understand that elimination was the reason for going outside. Wait only long enough for your dog to sniff around for the right spot and do its business. If nothing happens in that time, take your dog back to its confinement place for 15 minutes, then try again. Keep bringing your dog outside every 15 minutes until the dog does its business, and note how long it was since the last time your dog actually went, so that you’ll know how long to wait between times the next day. Once a routine has been established, you can loosen up on the confinement in the house some, but keep your dog with you, and keep its time out of confinement short, until you know that it understands where it is supposed to do its business. Give the routine 12 weeks. Many dogs need that long to fully get it. Assume that your dog is one of them, and you should succeed in fully house-training your dog. Sue Skiff started training dogs professionally in 1995. Her company, Silver Lining Pet Services, provides dog training and pet sitting services. Learn more at www.silverliningdogtrain.com or www.silverliningpetsitting.com, or contact her at information@silverliningdogtrain.com
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Page 14
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
November 11, 2011
Country Waffles, where the coffee is hot and everyone knows your name entrance. “A lot of people come daily,” regular local customer Dennis Bledsoe says. “The service is excellent.” Kearney employs the best people. “I teach them how to learn the customers and make a relationship with them. The first thing is to know their names.” Staffing at the Clayton Station location is a family affair with the four Rodriguez brothers (and one of their wives) having been with Kearny since Country Waffles oWner Pete Kearney depends on the Rodriguez brothers to whip, chop and flip the breakfast and lunch creations that keep customers coming back. From left Jorge Rodriguez, Pete Kearney, Rafael Rodriguez and Jose Rodriguez.
“We do our due diligence in creating the best food,” says owner Pete Kearney. The focus is on fresh. “We prepare our menu items daily, not in advance.” Kearney owns six other Country Waffles franchise locations (Danville, Pleasant Hill, Antioch, two Livermore locations and Dublin). Pleasant Hill is the hub store where new food items are tested to insure quality before adding them to the menu for other locations. In Clayton, customers visit with friends at other tables, confer at informal staff meetings over coffee or pick up a newspaper from the stand at the
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Walk through the front door of Country Waffles in the Clayton Station and the smells surround you like a warm hug – bacon and eggs on the griddle, fresh coffee and buttered toast. Oldies music, a friendly staff and a menu loaded with hearty breakfast and lunch fare, light options and senior specials complete the picture. “The food is so good,” Maddie Conklin from Bethel Island says. “It’s a convenient location for parking. What more could you ask for?”
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the store opened in 1994. Kearney starts the day in his home office in Alamo at 5 a.m. With his phone ear piece in place, checklist and pen in pocket and glasses tucked in the collar of his shirt, he typically travels to each location, noting on his list what he needs to bring or what he needs to discuss. But his priority is to jump into action where needed when he walks through the door of each restaurant, often busing a table, taking an order or cooking in the kitchen -- and always
greeting the customers. “I grew up in the restaurant business. My dad owned a restaurant,” Kearney says. After his dad sold the restaurant, Kearney worked for Bob’s Big Boy for 10 years. He moved on to the Perko’s franchise before switching to Country Waffles in 1991. The early closing hours afford Kearney the luxury of more time with his family and hobbies … and his newest venture, Clementine’s which will open in San Ramon in February
and will include a dinner menu and full bar. Named for his granddaughter, the cuisine is distinctly New Orleans and is his daughter’s concept. With so many plates spinning, “I’m not really interested in retiring,” Kearney says. “I love to create wealth. Not riches, but something to leave the kids and grandkids.” Country Waffles is location at 5435 Clayton Road, B, in the Clayton Shopping Center, 673-0943.
Clayton Community Calendar Please submit your Clayton Community Calendar events by 5 P.m. nov. 16 for the nov. 25 issue. items must be submitted by email to calendar@claytonpioneer.com
In Clayton Nov. 15 CHS Annual Meeting Clayton Historical Society’s Annual Meeting. Entertainment by Houseblend. Bring a main dish, salad or dessert and a place setting. Guests welcome. Doors open at 5 p.m. Endeavor Hall, 6008 Center St., Clayton. claytonhistory.org. Nov. 16 YVRW November Luncheon Ygnacio Valley Republican Women November luncheon and speaker Carol Hehmeyer. Open to the public. 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Drive, Clayton. yvrwf.org.
events and entertaInment Thru Nov. 13 “Little Shop of Horrors” Contra Costa Musical Theatre presents the comic story of a down and out floral assistant. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. lesherartscenter.org, 943-SHOW Thru-Nov. 13 “The Storytelling Ability of a Boy” Center REPertory Company presents the West Coast premiere of a turbulent, wickedly funny and tough tale of two teenagers. Strong language and situations. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $20-$30. centerrep.org, 943-SHOW. Thru-Nov. 19 “Weekend with Pablo Picasso” Center REPertory Company’s Bay Area premiere of the story of the most prolific and influential artist of the 20th century. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $38-$43. centerrep.org, 943SHOW. Nov. 11 Veteran’s Day Ceremony Remembrance held by Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) post 1525. 11 a.m. Hillcrest Community Park, 2050 Olivera Road, Concord. Buddy Poppies available there and at Clayton Safeway Nov. 10-13. 255-3449. Nov. 14-Jan. 15 Nunset Boulevard The Nuns are back at Willows Theatre in the “Nunsense Hollywood Bowl Show.” 1975 Diamond Blvd., Concord. $17-$32. willowstheatre.org, 798-1300. Nov. 18-19 Diablo Ballet Featuring the company’s first world premiere by Val Caniparoli set to the music of “A Phoenix Story.” 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18. 2 and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 19. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $23-$49. lesherartscenter.org, 943-SHOW. Nov. 25-Dec. 4 “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” Two buddies put on a show in a picturesque Vermont Inn and find their perfect mates in the process. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $17-$48. diablotheatre.org. Nov. 27 Diablo Symphony Performance with pianist Brenda Vahur and trumpeter Leonard Ott. 2 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $12-$20. lesherartscenter.org. Nov. 27 Duo Pianists Welcome the holidays with The Fratello Marionettes and Eric Tran & Nathan Cheung. 2 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $25. diablosymphony.org.
Dec. 1-24 A Christmas Carol A.C.T. performs this sparkling, music-infused celebration of goodwill. American Conservatory Theater, 415 Geary St., San Francisco. $15$105. act-sf.org or (415) 749-2228. Dec. 5-17 Youth Theatre Training Program Registration now open. Students 8-18 rehearse and perform “Seussical the Musical” through Willows Theatre. willowstheatre.org or Rachel Robinson 957-2500.
fundraIsers Nov. 16 CVHS Music Boosters Clayton Valley High School Music Boosters dine in or take out at Panda Express. 3 – 9:30 p.m. Panda Express, 2280 Oak Grove Road, Walnut Creek. Must present flyer for Boosters to get 20% of purchase; download from claytonbands.org. Nov. 19, 20 CVWC Holiday Boutique Clayton Valley Woman’s Club’s annual holiday boutique. Sat. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sun. 1 – 5 p.m. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 672-3850.
at the lIbrary The Clayton Library is at 6125 Clayton Road. Programs are free unless otherwise noted. 673-0659 or claytonlibrary.org. Wednesdays Book Buddies A volunteer will read stories for children of all ages. 1-2 p.m. Tuesdays through Nov. 29 Patty Cakes Story time for babies to 3-year-olds. 11 a.m. Thursdays through Nov. 17 Picture Book Time Story time for ages 3-5. 11 a.m. Thru Nov. 17 Clayton Reads Fourth annual Clayton Reads featuring “Baking Cakes in Kigali” by Gaile Parkin. Free copies at library while they last. Nov. 13 Baking Cakes in Kigali Book discussion moderated by librarian Karen Hansen-Smith. 2 p.m. Nov. 15 Paws to Read Encourage students to read through reading aloud to a dog. Registration required. Maximum three sessions. Grades 1-5. 4 p.m. Nov. 16 CERT Two-hour emergency preparedness seminar by Community Emergency Response Team. 7 p.m. Community Room. Free. claytoncert.org. Nov. 17 Through My Eyes Youth of Rwanda use the arts to help move the country forward 10 years after the genocide. 4:30 p.m.
Government 1st and 3rd Tuesdays Clayton City Council 7 p.m. Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 673-7304 or ci.clayton.ca.us. 2nd and 4th Tuesdays Clayton Planning Commission 7 p.m., Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 673-7304 or ci.clayton.ca.us.
November 11, 2011
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com
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Kick off the holiday season at the Contra Costa County Fair Fall Faire in Antioch on Nov. 12 and 13.
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“Loyal local shoppers are so important to our business,” says Sara Skow, owner of The Royal Rooster. Every year, this delightful little gift and home decor shop on Diablo Street in quaint downtown Clayton offers a close-by alternative to the crowded malls. Themed trees throughout the store make a stunning display and there is a wide variety of new merchandise for the holiday season. The Royal Rooster carries a large selection of jewelry, fragrances, handbags, Vera Bradley, seasonal decor, candles, furniture, greeting cards and gourmet food with complimentary gift basket design and gift wrap.
There’s no place like home for the holidays. And Clayton Furniture has everything to make that home comfy, cozy and inviting. Clayton Furniture is one of the oldest furniture businesses in Contra Costa, continuously family owned and operated since 1988. Clayton Furniture’s success is built on service, integrity and value. Visit their spacious showroom with displays presenting traditional, everyday furniture balanced with unique imports and domestic treasures. For those who have more in mind than what is on display, Clayton Furniture offers catalog ordering with short one to two week deliveries. Gift the perfect holiday de-stressor to yourself or someone you love. Divine Elements is the ultimate destination for relaxation and therapeutic massage. Therapists are expertly trained in several massage modalities, including Swedish, Deep Tissue, Prenatal, Reflexology and Hot Stone Massage, as well as many other spa treatments. Massage can help eliminate daily stresses, leaving one feeling rejuvenated and balanced. Take the first step towards the best in relaxation and pampering at Divine Elements. Call and book an appointment today at (925) 349-9490.
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Nothing speaks “love” quite as sweetly as that special bond between horse and rider. Earthquake Arabians prides itself on promoting and strengthening the Arabian horse influence on today’s youth and adult rider. At the same, Earthquake Arabians helps the rider build confidence, self-esteem, pride and the understanding of the
Page 15
s r o i r e t n I & s t f Gi cor e’s
Melani
al De n o s a e S estries Placemats Tap ners & Candles Run itira K e c n pping o Va h S f o ening v E t m. n to 8 p. Elega ,4 Dec. 7
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responsibilities involved with horses whether it is the rider’s first time in the saddle or they dream of competing at the National level. The Earthquake Arabians staff is dedicated to helping clients achieve their goals. Individual instruction gives each rider an opportunity to advance at their own pace and create individual goals for successful riding. Earthquake Arabians also offers fun-filled “Horsin’ Around” camps and birthday parties. Their lessons, camps and parties make memories that last a lifetime. www.earthquakearabians.com
It’s time to wrap and mail your Christmas packages to far-off loved ones. Turn this annual chore into pure pleasure at the Postal Annex counter in the Clayton Station. They will package your treasures for safe delivery while you browse the assorted gift items for stocking stuffers. And while you are celebrating, sadly the identity thieves are plotting. Rent a mailbox to keep your mail and personal information safe and out of harm’s way. Receive a mailbox with a street address that any mail carrier can deliver to (FedEx, UPS, USPS, DHL). Open a mailbox now and get three months free on a oneyear rental with the Postal Annex ad. Postal Annex also offers services including Notary, shredding, copying, passport photo and key cutting. Visit today at 5433 Clayton Rd K, in the Clayton Station Shopping Center or call 673-5246. Set the most beautiful table in town for Thanksgiving. Melanie’s Gifts and Interiors is celebrating the season. Come browse their bountiful selection of autumn-inspired pieces and table décor — placemats, table runners, cheese trays, spreaders, turkey platters, candles and hostess gift ideas. Melanie’s always provides unique gift ideas and interior accents. Shop locally in a peaceful environment with plenty of parking.
Thanksgiving Camp Nov. 21, 22, 23 SOLD 9 to 3pm; $300
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CAMPS INCLUDE: Horseback Riding Horse painting Limited camp Size Free Camp T shirt
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Per-day rate available with advanced notice
925.360.7454 3141 Morgan Territory Rd., Clayton
www.EarthquakeArabians.com
Welcome the season with a special
November 12 & 13 Hours: Sat. 10-5pm, Sun. 10-4pm
Fall Faire
at the Fairgrounds in
Antioch
Food Family Fun Friday Dec. 2. 7:30 - 8:30pm
St. Bonaventure Catholic Church 5562 Clayton Road, Concord
Friday Dec. 9. 7:30 - 8:30pm St. Agnes Church 3966 Chestnut Ave. Concord
Check out their CD
Quiet Time: Inspirational music on solo piano
with Clayton’s own Joyce and Santiago Martinez, Roxanne Pardi and Maryann Tarantino Please bring your family and friends and join us in our Christmas celebration!
Also see Vintage at the Clayton Pioneer
Christmas Cookie Judging Party
Dec. 13, 6:30 - 8 p.m.,
www.vintagetrio.com
Clayton Library
Free admission to all events
Arts and Crafts FREE Kids Craft Area Santa KCBS BBQ contest (Sat) Live Entertainment Rib Cookoff (Sun)
Free Parking Tickets: 13 and Over - $5 12 and Under - FREE
1201 West 10th St., Antioch (925) 757-4400 info@ccfair.org
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Page 16
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
November 11, 2011
Theatre
The Little Sisters of Hoboken are back and ready to bowl
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sirens. Even more shameless is “Whatever Happened to…” which recreates a certain Joan Crawford/Bette Davis movie, complete with bad wigs and wheelchairs. (Are we giving away too much?) Songs include Del Mastro’s big-voiced, big hearted singing of “That Kid’s Gonna Make It,” and Linda Dorsey leading the company in the boisterous, popgospel finale, “Don’t Look Back.” And, yes, Sister M. Annette, the puppet, is back as one-half of the duo with the marvelously ditzy Sister Amnesia.
GARY CARR Special to the Pioneer
The nuns are back at the Willows! The Concord theatre will stage the West Coast premiere of Dan Goggin’s “Nunset Boulevard.” It’s the latest in the string of “Nunsense” musical comedies, every one of which has played at the Willows since the 1980s. “Nunsense” series creator Goggin is in from New York to direct the latest show. Longtime favorite, Deborah Del Mastro once more playing the wisecracking, trumpet-playing Sister Robert Anne, heads up the allprofessional cast. Willows favorite Amy Washburn returns as Mother Superior.The other nuns are played by Linda Dorsey, Juliet Heller, and Alexandra Kaprielian. The plot? Well, take it on faith that “Nunset Boulevard” has a plot to hang the songs and
Sue Ellen Berger
“NUNSET BOULEVARD,” THE LATEST NUNSENSE the Willows Mainstage on Nov. 18.
gags (lots of ‘em) on. The Little Sisters of Hoboken have a gig at the Hollywood Bowl. But instead of the legendary California amphitheatre, they’re actually
MUSICAL
opens at
booked into the Hollywood Bowl-A-Rama. The five nuns triumph with such shameless numbers as “The Hollywood Blondes,” in which the nuns dress up like screen
Nunset Boulevard opens on Nov. 18 and runs through Jan. 15 at The Willows Theatre Mainstage in Concord. For tickets and other information, go to www.willowstheatre.org or call (925) 798-1300. The production is sponsored by the Crowne Plaza Concord.It’s guaranteed fun for the whole family.
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Book Review
“The Night Circus” is a place of enchantment Magical realism is an acquired taste. While all works of fiction require a certain suspension of disbelief to be successful, it is more so in the case of magical realism. This is a trick, unless you happen to believe that there is magic all
around, and that in fact life itself is magical. One would expect there to be magic in a circus, but the magic in Erin Morgenstern’s “The Night Circus” is especially real. As it turns out, the magic in “The Night Circus” is so real, it’s packaged as fake. Like any good tale, The Night Circus boils down to a battle between good and evil, with a love story entwined between the lines. Celia Bowen is delivered to her father’s doorstep with a note on her coat. The message is short: the girl belongs to Hector Bowen, known professionally as Prospero The Enchanter. Hector’s reaction of dismay at meeting the girl quickly turns to mild interest when she displays an innate talent for magic that he cannot ignore. Prospero the Enchanter takes the girl under this magical cape and trains her in the finer points of illusion. Celia is an agile student. Meanwhile, Prospero’s nemesis, a man known only as Mr. A. H. – or alternately, the man in the grey suit – takes on an apprentice of his own. He finds himself a boy from an orphanage, adopts him and begins a regimen of strict instruction, tutoring the boy in everything under the sun and
CYNTHIA GREGORY
FOR
THE
BOOKS
the moon about magic. Together, the two ancient, ageless magicians enter into a gentlemen’s agreement, a challenge. They will test the accomplishments of each student’s skills, with the last one standing named the winner. Literally. One of the contestants must die for the contest to end. Fortunately for the reader, the contest takes place in The Night Circus, alternately know as Le Cirque des Reves, a circus designed to be like no other, where magic is more real than real, a circus open only at night. And fortunately for the romantics in the audience, the two contenders fall in love before they learn each other’s true identity, which adds another satisfyingly complicated twist to the story.
Like any circus worthy of the name, The Night Circus is populated by a crew of eccentrics, and deliciously so. The circus is a dream where the impossible is quite real, and what appears real is mere illusion. Fans of the circus include Herr Frederick Thiessen, a clockmaker and circus devotee; Tsukiko, a contortionist; a pair of red haired twins; and the circus’ proprietor, who is the bastard son of an Indian prince and a ballet dancer, named M. Chandresh Christophe Lefevre. The circus moves mysteriously around the globe and despite a habit of popping up on the outskirts of a town without warning, develops a devoted following. As the challenge between the two young magicians escalates, so too, does the magic of the circus, until in a penultimate challenge, the magic itself threatens the heart of the circus and all of its inhabitants. Happily, though most of the narrative takes place at night, this is not a dark story. It is a place of magic, where anything is possible. Cynthia Gregory is a writer, book reviewer, and epic lit chick whose blog can be found at persephonesstepsisters.wordpress.com
help2build MERRILL LYNCH IS PROUD TO BE PART OF THE CLAYTON COMMUNITY. Now, help from a one-on-one advocate who knows where you are and where you want to go is more important than ever. A Merrill Lynch Financial Advisor is an invaluable local resource with access to the abundant resources of Bank of America to help you plan, grow and imagine.
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MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, member Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. © 2010 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.
November 11, 2011
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com
‘Tis the season for cyclamen. This color spot fulfills our need for flowers in a garden or container from fall through mid-spring. Cyclamen are extremely hardy and simple to grow. Unfortunately, this perennial is used and abused. They’re popped into our entryway containers, and used as decoration in the home. Then they’re tossed into the compost or green waste at the fist signs of spring. This is no way to treat this tuberous perennial. Cyclamen flowers have upswept petals in various colors and a nose that always points down. Flower heads are held on sturdy, fleshy stems. They have five petals that model a cup shape. A flower rosette forms at the base of this plant’s tuber, and uncurls itself towards the sky. The leaves of cyclamen are interesting with their varied markings of cream on green. Most cyclamen will reach 10- 12-inches tall and about 1foot wide. Cyclamen are grouped in series. Silver Heart and Maxora are both highly reliable, hardy families of the plant. The Maxora series of cyclamen is very familiar looking. This selection’s hardiness
NICOLE HACKETT
GARDEN GIRL to frost makes it a great Clayton Valley installation. Maxora has a large flower head on very compact, thick stems. Maxora Pink Flame is dark pink at the blossom’s nose, and streaks to a lighter pink towards the tip of each petal. This cyclamen would look very nice planted near some Daphne shrubs. Maxora Salmon is more the color of cooked salmon. The flower is a bright shade of pink, with just a touch of orange. The brightness of Maxora Salmon adds a burst of color in a garden bed beneath Alaska or Happy Days Azaleas. For those gardens that crave a darker shade of color, one can
always enjoy the Maxora Wine. This dark, purplish burgundy flower blends nicely with fancy leafed Heuchera. Silver Heart is a dwarf form of already a small plant. Then name Silver Heart comes from this selections heavy variegation. It almost gives the leaf a silver coloring. You can expect four to eight inches of height from this cyclamen, making it a great choice incorporated in a colorful walkway. Silver Heart is available in basic solid colors. The leaf of this plant is the attention grabber. Silver Heart Purple, White and Scarlet are the colors that standout the most. Proper planting instructions should be followed with installing cyclamen. First rule with planting cyclamen is take as much of the growing medium off of your new plant as you can. Notice I said growing medium and not soil. Plants that are typically used and abused are grown in a light, peatlike mix that allows roots to grow very fast. This medium however isn’t good at all long term. It can be super soggy and slimy if over watered, and is very hard to rewet if allowed to dry out. You will
have to remove the growing medium, and replant using soil. If you are installing into a container, use a professional blend of potting soil. Make sure your potting soil looks like dirt. Not bark. If planting into the ground, use a planting mix. Again, you want your product to look like soil. All too often I’ll see what is called soil, being mostly mulch like material. There is no plant nutritional value there. Cyclamen are shade-loving perennials. They deserve to thrive in your Clayton Valley landscape. Don’t use and abuse them. Don’t discard them. Transplant from you containers or borders when they finish blooming to your landscape in the shade. They will die back as summer warms and the soil dries, and they’ll reemerge in the fall to thrill you all over again.
Page 17
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Nicole is the Garden Girl at R&M Pool, Patio, Gifts and Garden and the 2011 Clayton Valley Garden Club president. Contact her with questions, comments or suggestions at gardengirl@claytonpioneer.com
Face up to flings on Facebook STEPHANIE HO MIND MATTERS The novel “With Just One Click” by Amanda Strong follows the trials and tribulations of what happens to three adult women whose relationships are forever changed by their Facebook accounts. It is a fascinating story about what happens when lines are blurred between innocence and betrayal, the past and the present, and flirtation and infidelity. There has been a lot of media attention on how the younger generation uses Facebook to connect and socialize and much less attention on how older adults are using the social media site. We know that Facebook is used not just to keep up with networks of extended family and friends, but also to actively search for what past crushes, loves and exes are up to. With the popularity of Google and other social networking sites, it has become much eas-
ier to find your former flame. But, once that search for the other person is conducted, you can never go back. And, that initial curiosity can lead down a slippery slope of wanting something more. To Google or not? To Facebook friend or not? Here are some questions to guide the decision-making: 1) Why are you doing it? 2) Would you feel comfortable meeting this person face-toface and having the same sort of in-person contact? 3) Would you feel comfortable telling your spouse, their spouse, your children or others about this person? 4) Are you willing to deal with the consequences and could you walk away if need be? First of all, it is important to understand why you would want to friend an ex. Studies have shown that first relationships are highly emotionally charged which makes memories of such relationships much more memorable. History also has a way of being romanticized. You put those two factors together and it should come as no surprise that people who wind up pursuing their first love tend to have their current
relationship broken apart. Second, it is much easier to put your best foot forward online and be selective about who you create as your online persona. Would this person you engage with online still respond in the same way to you in real life? Third, if you’re keeping secrets and not telling your intimate circle that you’ve reconnected with a past love, then it’s an interesting question about what that guilt is all about. The cover-up leads to more secret-keeping and a web of deceit emerges. Lastly, if your spouse has a problem with you and your ex being cyber pals, then you have to be prepared to walk away from the past and protect your current relationship in the present and the future. The fact remains that Facebook does not create cheaters. The same people who would go down that road would look for other ways to create extramarital relationships in their life, whether with a neighbor, a co-worker or a gym buddy. It is important to remember that the cyber walk down memory lane might be more treacherous than we realize and we need to proceed with caution.
Stephanie T. Ho is a licensed psychologist. She has a private practice office in Walnut Creek and works at UC Berkeley. She can be reached at stephanie.ho.phd@gmail.com.
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Page 18
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
November 11, 2011
Thanksgiving Dinner – it’s better with bacon! LINDA WYNER
FOOD
FOR
THOUGHT
Every year the Thanksgiving issues of food magazines extol the virtues of avant garde dishes to accompany the venerable roast turkey. This year, the press seems a bit more conservative, opting for the guilty pleasures of traditional favorites with few twists and turns. Well, I suggest you stick to those family favorites – but add BACON! Salty, yummy bacon will add a new dimension to your meal, and it will result in rave reviews from your family and friends around the table. HONEYSWEET BACON AND BRUSSELS SPROUTS SAUTÉ 12 oz. thick bacon, cut crosswise into matchsticks 1 Tbsp olive oil 2 Tbsp unsalted butter 1 Tbsp honey 2 lb Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved lengthwise Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste Heat the bacon and olive oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until bacon is crisp and fat is rendered, about 15 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain, and pour off all but 2 Tbsp of the bacon drippings. Return skillet to heat and add butter and honey. Add Brussels sprouts and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and caramelized, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and serve garnished with reserved bacon.
BACON AND BOURBON STUFFING ½ lb thick bacon, chopped 4 Tbsp butter 1 large onion, chopped 3 celery stalks, diced 2 tsp dried rosemary, chopped or crumbled 1½ tsp dried thyme 2 Tbsp dried sage, ground or crumbled 1 ½ lb loaf of rye, wheat or Italian bread, cubed, air-dried or toasted 1 egg, beaten 3 to 4 c low sodium chicken stock ¼ c bourbon (plus more for the cook… as needed) Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 13x9 baking dish. Brown bacon in a large skillet and drain on paper towels. Remove and reserve bacon fat. Melt butter in the skillet and stir in the onion, celery and rosemary. Cook until onion is soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add back in the bacon fat. Stir together the bread cubes with the onion mixture, reserved bacon, thyme, sage and egg. Toss to mix. Stir together the bourbon and 3 cups of chicken stock. Pour this liquid over the stuffing and toss to coat evenly. If the dressing is too dry, add some of the extra cup of stock. Transfer stuffing to the baking dish, patting down lightly, and bake for 45 minutes until crust has browned and stuffing is firm to the touch. BACON AND CANE SYRUP PECAN PIE Adapted from September 2011 Fine Cooking Magazine Single layer pie crust 8 large egg yolks 1 tsp vanilla extract 2/3 c packed light brown sugar ½ c unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces ½ c cane syrup (Lyle’s, available at
good grocers) ½ c heavy cream ¼ tsp kosher salt 1 ½ c pecan halves, toasted, cooled, and coarsely chopped 1/3 c crumbled cooked bacon (3 or 4 strips) Roll out the purchased or homemade dough into a 13” round. Transfer to a 9” pie plate and crimp the crust with your fingers. Dock (prick) the crust with the tines of a fork and chill for 1 hour in the refrigerator. Preheat oven to 425°F. Blind bake crust (place dry beans or ceramic balls on a piece of foil lining the inside of the crust) for 15
minutes, then remove the weights and reduce oven temperature to 375°F. Bake another 5 to 7 minutes, or until the bottom of the pie looks dry. Cool on a rack. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F and place large baking sheet on middle rack of oven to heat up while you prepare the filling. Whisk the egg yolks and vanilla in a heatproof bowl and set aside. Heat the sugar, butter, cane syrup, cream and salt in a small saucepan until butter is melted and the mixture is hot but not boiling. While whisking vigorously, slowly add the hot sugar mixture to
Owls, from page 1 NATURAL PESTICIDE Barn owls are a natural predator of rats, mice, gophers and possum, says Carolyn Lie of the Native Bird Connection, an East Bay-based not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating the public about the safety and benefits of the area’s feathered friends. And as a natural predator, barn owls are the most environmentally safe method to combat the ever-growing rodent population in the East Bay. “Owl boxes are the answer,” Lie says. “It’s a win-win. We give them homes, and they are around to combat rats and other pesky rodents in a safe, non-toxic way.” It was rodent control that prompted Clayton resident Eunice Cole, who lives out off of Marsh Creek Road, to contact Native Bird Connections. Her dog was struck with what she believed was an illness caused by rat poison. “We live in an area that we must share space with rodents,” she said. “I wanted to know how we could deal with the problem appropriately.”
She had heard of “green” pest control from Wild Birds Unlimited in Pleasant Hill, who in turn put her in touch with Lie’s organization. They contacted the Cemex Quarry – which has a lot of land that attracts both barn owls and rodents – who agreed to put up the boxes. Now, Cole and her Marsh Creek neighbors know that they have safe rodent control in their neighborhood, at least as soon as the owls move in. HOME SWEET HOME Barn owls grow to as big as 16-inches tall with a wingspan of about three-and-a-half feet, Lie says, and can consume up to 700 pounds of rodents in a lifetime. And they are eager to find homes, she says. Each owl box can house a mated pair and their babies, she says, and once the babies grow up, they are not usually welcomed back. “There are no boom-a-rang owlets,” Lie says. “But, if there are other owl boxes nearby, it’s
the yolks. Strain over a large measuring cup if any of the egg curdles. Spread the pecans over the cooled pie crust. Sprinkle the cooked bacon over the pecans. Pour the warm filling in a slow, spiral motion to avoid dislodging the nuts. Bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until the filling is firm to the touch and doesn’t wobble when the pie is lightly shaken. Cool for at least 1 hour before serving. Still want more bacon? Place strips of bacon over the breast of the turkey while roasting. Remove during the last 20 minutes to allow the skin to brown. Add crumbled
bacon to your favorite green bean casserole (or simmer a strip of uncooked bacon with your beans that go into the casserole). Add ¼ c crumbled bacon to onion or blue cheese dip (or even onion-blue cheese dip). Have an excellent Thanksgiving Day. Oink!
likely they will set up a family compound.” The owl boxes themselves must be big enough to house a growing owl family, but the opening must be small enough to keep out predators – including the bigger, badder bullies, screech owls, which prey on barn owls. It was about two years ago that Lie began to realize the value of owl boxes, especially in the East Bay where the rodent population was growing in size and the barn owl habitats were decreasing. It took an Eagle Scout’s project, however, to produce the first boxes for the organization. He made 10 boxes, the first one that was hung in Lafayette in September 2010. Within five months, it was home to a family of barn owls. The remaining boxes went quickly as homeowners, farmers and even businesses realized the value of the boxes. Now, Lie and Native Bird Connections are eagerly hoping that other scouts, woodworkers or handy organizations can come to their rescue by building more boxes.
LOCATION, LOCATION The boxes can be hung in rural, suburban and even urban areas, Lie says, wherever there is a rodent problem. But there are some restrictions. For instance, the entrance of the box needs to point east or southeast, as west is too hot and north is too cold. The quarry boxes are near the old farmhouse on the property, which is good because it is away from people and power lines, and near a marshy creek. In fact, some owl boxes become so desirable, other birds or squirrels might move into the owl house before the owls do. If that’s the case, the human landlords should try and boot out the squatters. Lie says it can take just a day, or as long as five years for owls to make the boxes home. “But be patient,” she says. “Know that you are helping the owls, and helping the environment.”
Linda Wyner, a local attorney and foodie, owns Pans on Fire, a gourmet cookware store and cooking school in Pleasanton. Direct your suggestions or questions to lwyner@claytonpioneer.com
Owl boxes are available for a $100 donation to Native Bird Connection. For more information, or to volunteer to make an owl box, visit the NBC website at www.nativebirds.org or call 925-9639753.
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