2012_Clayton_Pioneer_0713

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IT’S YOUR PAPER www.claytonpioneer.com

July 13, 2012

925.672.0500

Colors fly as Clayton celebrates 4th of July the old fashioned way HOWARD GELLER

MAYOR’S CORNER

Clayton through the years – a few interesting numbers Being a small town, it doesn’t take much to change the demographics of our community. Over the past 25 years or so, we have seen Clayton grow from 960 acres (1.5 square miles) to approximately 2,688 acres (4.2 square miles). Our population has increased from approximately 4,500 to its present population of almost 11,000. In 1985, Clayton’s first published newspaper was born, The Clayton Valley Forum. It was my privilege to be partner

See Mayor, page 13

Tech Trek helps young women sample science careers

THIS TOUCHING IMAGE BY SHELLY SHUEY OF WAR VETERANS PREPARING FOR THE 4TH OF JULY parade was the first place winner in the Pioneer’s annual July 4 photo contest. Shuey was walking the route before the parade when she captured this shot of VFW Post Commander Paul Carroll helping WWII vet Ming Hanson into the jeep. The VFW jeep was one of more than 40 entries in this year’s traditional July 4 parade. See page 16 for story and more contest winners.

The Fourth of July in Clayton is a page right out of Mayberry: quaint and warm, a day when the whole town turns red, white and blue in celebration of our national birthday. This year, the theme was “Go for the Gold,” to honor the town’s two Olympians, diver Kristian Ipsen and rower Kara Kohler, who will head to London at the end of the month. Early in the morning, the dozens of willing souls that it takes to mount the day’s events gathered at the volunteer table to pick up their distinctive orange and green vests, as the aroma of pancakes the Rotary Club cooked up at Endeavor Hall filled the downtown air. Just before 10 a.m. the military Huey helicopter did a flyover as the crowds lining Main Street cheered and waved. New to this year’s event was Master of Ceremonies Cw Wolfe, a Clayton resident and voiceover actor who clearly had a good time standing in for regular announcer, ABC-7 anchor Dan Ashley. As Representatives of the Armed Forces presented the

See July 4, page 17

PAMELA WIESENDANGER Clayton Pioneer

Momentary back-to-school jitters over making new friends and meeting new teachers struck – only it was still June. The regular school year ended a few days before. Why were the three rising eighth graders from Diablo View Middle School thinking about going back to school already? Because they were headed straight to college. Megan Brys, Kacie Hennessy and Alison Mitchell were

MEGAN BRYS LIKES THE UNEXPECTED and “being surprised by my teachers.” Here she finds out what to expect when mixing substances to see which combination is the most volatile in an experiment to learn about different chemical reactions while simulating volcanic behavior.

See Tech Trek, page 9

Relay for Life will paint the town purple PAMELA WIESENDANGER Clayton Pioneer

Those red, white and blue decorations are so last week. Now, purple is the color around town. It is the signature color of the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life fundraiser coming to Clayton Community Park on Aug. 11 and 12. Purple ribbons will be on trees, purple flowers in restaurants, purple gloves in salons and purple balloon bouquets floating about town July 2129. What should one do when they see purple? Support Clayton’s Relay For Life. There are a variety of ways: Sign up to walk, volunteer or donate. Create or join a team. Volunteer to help Paint the Town Purple, set up or tear down on the weekend of the event. Donate to a friend or the Luminaria Ceremony at dusk honoring those touched by cancer. “Survivorship is the biggest

part of the Relay,” says Mindy Thompson, event chair. She encourages cancer survivors and anyone who has been told they have cancer, to sign up to walk the Survivor Lap that starts the 24-hour Relay. Entertainment will be provided by DJ Magic and local bands. The Salvation Army Canteen will feed the walkers. Brenda Righter, recruitment chair, invites people to even come just to give a walker a hug and participate in activities on the sidelines, like the raffle and fitness sessions. “We are working so hard to make it great; we want to make it great for as many people as possible.” For more information, contact Event Chair Mindy Thompson at tinklover70@gmail.com or 2075564; Recruitment Chair Brenda Righter at b.righter@prodigy.net or 925-212-2048. For additional information and registration, go to relayforlife.org/claytonca.

TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer

RELAY FOR LIFE WALKERS joined kids and ponies and local dignitaries on Main Street for the July 4 parade. The second annual Clayton Relay For Life fundraiser takes place at the Community Park on Aug. 11 and 12.

Joseph Medrano, a Clayton city councilman and local insurance broker charged with embezzling from a former client, has filed a Motion to Dismiss with the San Mateo County court, claiming that San Mateo County has no jurisdiction over the case. Medrano is accused of misappropriating $159,630 in insurance premiums from iPass, Inc., an Internet service provider based in San Mateo County. The district attorney says Medrano kept premium checks intended for insurance coverage instead of sending them to the insurance carrier. Medrano maintains iPass breached a contract and that he was owed the money.

See Medrano, page 5

What’s Inside Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Car Tuned . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Medrano files to dismiss embezzlement charges

Church News . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Community Calendar . . . . . .14

CVHS Reporter . . . . . . . . . . .9 Design & Décor . . . . . . . . . . .4 Directory of Advertisers . . . . .5 Fashion Over 50 . . . . . . . . .13 Fitness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 From the Chief . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Letters to the Editor . . . . . . . .6 Mind Matters . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Obituary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Performing Arts . . . . . . . . . .15 Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Pioneer Photo Album . . . . . . .3 Police Activity . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Sports Shorts . . . . . . . . . . . .12 The Charter Papers . . . . . . . .9

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLAYTON, CA PERMIT 190


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