THIS
WEEK
END
Clayto Cleans n April 26, 9 U p a.m
IT’S YOUR PAPER www.claytonpioneer.com
Ci BBQ ty Hall Co . lunch urtya rd fo at 11 r voluntee :30 rs
April 25, 2014
925.672.0500
State schools leader calms Common Core fears PEGGY SPEAR Clayton Pioneer
The state superintendent of schools’ office has some soothing words for critics of Common Core, the contentious new curriculum standards set to
debut in California classrooms next fall. “We’re not New York,” said Craig Cheslog, a principal advisor to State Superintendent of Schools Tom Torlakson, speaking to members of the Diablo Valley Democratic Club earlier
this month. “We’re not going to screw it up.” With those words, Cheslog acknowledged what many of the growing number of Common Core critics have been saying — that in some states this new education revolution is ill-thought
out, politically motivated and possibly damaging to kids. Cheslog said many highranking education leaders of the state’s, as well as a majority of its teachers, support Common Core and its focus on preparing students for careers in the 21st
century. “Many states have rushed to implement Common Core,” Cheslog says. “There has been little to no professional development, and they are rushing the testing without making sure it works, linking them to high
stakes. In California, we will be ‘testing the test’ before it’s linked to high stakes.” There will be no API-like score for two years, he said, referring to the scores schools
See Common Core, pg 8
Ed’s celebrates 20 years in Clayton Downtown bar and grill is home base to two generations of loyal fans JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
HANK STRATFORD
MAYOR’S CORNER
Springtime in Clayton I love this time of year. The hills are green. The wildflowers are in bloom. The weather is getting warm. I hope you are enjoying spring in Clayton. Things are relatively quiet in Clayton these days. There is a lot of excitement for the new bocce ball courts that the Ipsen family, Skipolini’s and the CBCA are installing. The Ipsens have had a very positive impact on Clayton over the years and the bocce ball courts will be a nice addition to their legacy.
See Mayor, page 6
Tamara Steiner
CHANCES ARE WHEN YOU DINE AT ED’S MUDVILLE GRILL YOU’LL RUN INTO SOMEONE FROM YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, school or sports team. It’s almost certain you’ll recognize members of the staff, many of whom have been there for most of the 20 years that Ed’s has been open. The Mudville crew includes, seated from left, Dominic Moresi, John Mahloch, Morgan Herrera, Greg Neely; standing, Stephanie Moresi, Ed Moresi, Samantha Reinholdt, Lorenzo Garcia, Brigitte Carlson, Terri Matheson, Antonio Tapia, Ryan Metz and Carol Ricetti. Mac McCormick missed the photo.
Cheers! Annual Art & Wine Festival returns to downtown
Clayton Cleans Up this Sat.
Locals and visitors will stream into town for popular event’s 19th year TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
Tamara Steiner
ED WARANER, CLAYTON WOOD CARVER, will have his carvings, both big and small, on display at the CBCA Art and Wine Festival, May 3 and 4. Waraner’s tree service business provides the wood for the carvings.
The annual Art and Wine Festival, presented by the Clayton Business and Community Association, will be back for the 19th time on Saturday and Sunday, May 3 and 4. All the features that more than 200,000 attendees during past festivals have come to enjoy will return: premium wines and beers, arts and crafts vendors, a food court, continuous live music and the popular Kiddieland. The festival is open to the public with no admission charge. Saturday’s festivities run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ed Waraner, owner of Waraner Tree Service, will join the more than 100 vendors that will line up along Main Street and Marsh Creek Road.
See Art & Wine, page 7
What’s Inside Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Neil Brennan
VOLUNTEERS AT CLAYTON CLEANS UP ON SAT., APR. 26, will take home a designer t-shirt by Clayton artist Janet White. Pictured, are Pioneer staffers Pete Cruz, Pamela Wiesendanger and publisher Tamara Steiner.
Rain or shine, Clayton Cleans Up the town this Saturday. If it rains, it will be the first time it’s ever rained on the event and you won’t want to miss being part of that historic moment. The big orange trash bags can double as ponchos if it’s raining. And if it’s sunny, we’ll all do a rain dance at the BBQ. So, come on down to City Hall and check in by 9 a.m. Bring the kids, the church group, your scout troop, the neighbors and the dog. Volunteers are rewarded with a t-shirt, a BBQ lunch and the respect of a grateful community. This year’s t-shirt design comes from the creative mind of local artist Janet White. The event is sponsored by the Clayton Pioneer, the city of Clayton with generous donations from Republic Services, CBCA, Travis Credit Union, Fresh and Easy, Orchard Supply Hardware, Peet’s Coffee and TMT Branding.
Community Calendar . . . . .16 Concord City Beat . . . . . . . . .6 Design and Décor . . . . . . . .20 Directory of Advertisers . . . . .5 DVMS Reporter . . . . . . . . . .9 Estate Planning . . . . . . . . . .14 Fit with Levity . . . . . . . . . . .14
Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Get Up & Get Out . . . . . . . .18 Living Well . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 MDES Reporter . . . . . . . . . . .9 Performing Arts . . . . . . . . . .17 Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Pine Hollow Reporter . . . . . .9
The iconic poem “Casey at the Bat” ends by declaring “there is no joy in Mudville.” That’s not true in Clayton, where there is almost always joy in Mudville. That is, in Ed’s Mudville Grill, which on May 3 celebrates 20 years as a popular, family-friendly downtown anchor. For Mudville Grill owner Ed Moresi, May 3 is a recurring landmark in his professional career. It was on May 3, 1974 that he began busing tables and washing dishes for Skip Ipsen at Skipolini’s in Clayton during his junior year at Clayton Valley High School. Exactly 20 years later in 1994 he opened Mudville at the corner of Center Street and Marsh Creek Road.
See Ed’s, page 7
Burglar hits barber shop Clayton police are investigating an early morning burglary at Hair’s the Place in the Village Oaks building on Center Street. The security alarm alerted police who called owner Nancy Willis Bacerra around 6 a.m. on April 8. Burglars snapped off the lock on the front door and took an estimated $700 in cash. “I never leave money in there overnight,” Bacerra said. “But I had to leave early that day.” A client told her later that day that his wife saw someone standing in front of the door when she was out on her morning walk. She waved, NANCY BACERRA but the man didn’t wave back. Thinking it odd, she mentioned it to her husband who drove to the barbershop to check. The police were already there. Police ask anyone with information to call 925-673-7350.
Pocket Parent . . . . . . . . . . .14 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Sports Shorts . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Sports Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Teen Reads . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Teen Speak . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Voyage of the Eagle . . . . . . .8
Like us on
Postal Customer ECRWSS PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLAYTON, CA 94517 PERMIT 190