Save
the D ate
Clayto Cleans n Up April 27, 9 a
IT’S YOUR PAPER www.claytonpioneer.com
City H .m. all Co BBQ u rty lunch for vo ard lunte at 11 ers :30
April 12, 2013
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Smart asses find sanctuary at Morgan Territory donkey rescue TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
JULIE PIERCE
MAYOR’S CORNER
Clayton springs into action this month Spring has sprung; the trees are blooming, the poppies, tulips and daffodils are shining in the sunshine and our town’s landscape is waking up from its winter rest. The calendar is getting busy too. A few quick date reminders of activities about town: • Friday, April 12 – Sunday, April 14: Clayton Community Library Foundation Used Book Sale. Proceeds support our library • Monday, April 15, 7-9 p.m: Fire Station Closure Sub-Committee meeting at Hoyer Hall, Clayton Community Library. The subcommittee members are council members Jim Diaz and David Shuey. Agenda posted on city website at www.ci.clayton.ca.us
See Mayor, page 9
Nancy Kelleher
JEN-JEN, A 24-YEAR-OLD LONG EAR DONKEY, rescued four years ago from a life of neglect and ill health, lives in contented retirement at Doodleton Ranch with owner Katherine Palau. Jen-Jen helps out every summer at the day camps where she and Palau instruct the kids in the finer points of donkey grooming.
Concord neighbors sue Seeno over easement in Olive Drive development PEGGY SPEAR
Clayton Pioneer
Concord residents who live on a small private court off of Olive Drive are finding that it may be tough to love thy new neighbors. When developer giant Seeno unveiled plans to build six
homes on a vacant lot next to Gyger Court, residents realized that a long gravel strip of land that had been used for parking their cars was going to be part of the new subdivision. If that happens, many contend, the remaining street is not wide enough for cars or emergency vehicles.
Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
GYGER COURT RESIDENT KURT LEINTZ and two of his neighbors are suing developer Jackie Seeno for a six-foot easement along their narrow lane. The residents have used the strip without objection from the property owners since the 1990s.
In an effort to force Seeno to grant an easement on the property, residents filed a suit against the developers in Contra Costa Superior Court in March. “We don’t want to be seen as cranky neighbors, but the fact is the street is too small if the development eats up the gravel strip,” says Kurt Leintz, one of the plaintiffs. Property disputes like this are not uncommon, especially in housing-tight areas in the Bay Area. When Leintz and his neighbors brought the issue to the city planners, they were told to resolve it directly with the builders, Leintz says. “We’re not litigation crazy, but this was the only way we could buy some time with the project,” he says. Seeno representatives were asked to modify other aspects of the plan, and Leintz says he hopes that when the company comes before the city’s design review board on April 11, the new design will reflect the easement. The suit lists property owner Sandra Zackaray and developer Jackie Seeno as defendants. Neither could be reached for comment.
What’s Inside Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Behind the Badge . . . . . . . . .8 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Community Calendar . . . . .14 Design and Décor . . . . . . . .16
Proper permits for the project will not be issued until all litigation is removed. Leintz says he and some of his neighbors have other concerns about the project besides the easement. He says the plans call for six two-story homes, and that doesn’t fit in with the ranch-style houses surrounding the lot. The Design Review Board asked that some of the homes be scaled back to one-story. Leintz has been living across from the disputed property since 2007, and was told by his realtor that his property line actually extended all the way to the fence separating the vacant lot. It was a surprise to him to learn that the gravel strip was not part of his property. “I don’t know how garbage trucks or fire engines could make it down this street if we don’t get the easement. We’ll be in a real pinch.” If the fire district determines that the street is too narrow for emergency vehicles to use, they could designate it a fire lane, and prohibit all parking on the street, Leintz says.
See Seeno, page 8 Directory of Advertisers . . . . .5 DVMS Reporter . . . . . . . . . .9 Fashion Over 50 . . . . . . . . .16 Fitness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
There is no doubt that Jen-Jen is smart. Not only smart, but loyal, protective, reliable, tenacious, affectionate and very, very lucky. Jen-Jen is also an ass – a Long Ear donkey who spent the first 20 years of her life in a pasture guarding sheep. She was on the job everyday, all day, eating the lush grass in the pasture and protecting her charges from predators. Sadly, no one was watching out for Jen-Jen – no one was trimming her hooves or paying attention to what she ate. She grazed at will and no one cared that she got fatter and fatter. Donkeys are desert animals and can’t process the high-sugar content grass that grows in California pastures. And no one paid attention as her untrimmed hooves grew longer and longer until she could no longer walk. When her rescuers found her she was 200 pounds overweight and herding sheep on her knees. Jen-Jen was sent to Doodleton Ranch on Morgan Territory
See Donkey, page 3
Clean up Clayton and take home a designer T-shirt
PIONEER STAFFERS Pamela Wiesendanger, Tamara Steiner and Pete Cruz sport the Clayton Cleans Up t-shirts designed by local artist Patricia Crane.
Rain or shine, scores of Claytonians show up at City Hall every year on a Saturday morning in April to pick up garbage bags and gloves before heading out to the city streets for Clayton Cleans Up. This event, held to honor Earth Day, is a great chance for kids, adults, Scout Troops, service clubs, families and neighbors to spiff up the town in readiness for the Art and Wine Festival. This year’s free T-shirt is a special designer edition created by Clayton resident, Patricia Crane. “I have been interested in art since my first box of crayons and have always managed to have some type of art in my life,” Crane says. She continues to take Hiker’s Haven . . . . . . . . . . .15 Letter to the Editor . . . . . . . .5 Mind Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Performing Arts . . . . . . . . . .15 Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
art classes that are offered locally and participate in community theater. “I am happy that I can use my computer design skills to give back to the community through groups like the Clayton Valley Art Collaborative and Clayton Cleans Up.” Volunteers meet at 9 a.m., Saturday, April 27, at City Hall to pick up a T-shirt, garbage bags and gloves. At 11:30, everyone meets back at City Hall for a barbecue lunch. The event is sponsored by the Clayton Pioneer and the city of Clayton with generous donations from Allied Waste, Travis Credit Union and local merchants. For more information, call the Pioneer at (925) 672-0500. Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Speaking of Sports . . . . . . .11 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Sports Shorts . . . . . . . . . . .12 Weather Words . . . . . . . . . .18
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLAYTON, CA PERMIT 190