APR 27 Clayton Pioneer 2007

See new Home Improvement Guide Section B

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLAYTON, CA PERMIT 190

IT’S YOUR PAPER www.claytonpioneer.com

April 27, 2007

925.672.0500

Seniors spared injuries in bus crash TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer

BILL WALCUTT

MAYOR’S CORNER Check your trash and recycle more My 100th da y as ma yor has come and g one without notice , so I guess it is time to talk about garbage. No, I am not refer ring to politics . I mean real g arbage or recycled garbage.

I know what you are thinking.

Isn’t that what politics is all about –recycled g arbage? I cannot disag ree with that thought, however, I am refer ring to recycled household garbage.

Before I star t talking trash, I would like to clear up a few reoccurring questions: 1. No, the new Do wntown Park is not g oing to ha ve ar tificial turf . You will be happy to know that on March 20, the City Council unanimously v oted to approve “real g rass” in the Downtown Park.

2. Yes, the cur rent $127.86 landscape maintenance tax really does expire in J une 2007 and so does the funding to maintain it.

3. Yes, Measure M failed to get the tw o-thirds majority v ote needed to pass . As y ou recall.

Measure M w as a 2005 ballot measure to re place the expiring, $127.86 ann ual landscape maintenance tax.

4. Yes, if passed by voters on the June 2007 ballot, Measure B will replace the expiring $127.86 annual landscape maintenance tax with a new tax of $196.77 a year.

One more thing before I g et into g arbage. Please join fello w citizens for Clayton Cleans Up, 9 a.m. to noon on Saturda y, April 28. If you would like some free exercise, or you are bored or just feeling very community-oriented that da y, come help us clean Clayton’s creeks, trails and parks.

Clayton is celebrating 150 years (sesquicentennial) this year , and it needs some tender loving care.

See Mayor, page A7

Police suspect that a y oung driver in a 2001 Mustang w as running a red light when he rammed into the side of a Diamond T errace bus last Thursday.

Preliminary in vestigation indicates that the y outh w as heading east on Cla yton R oad about 3 p.m. on April 19 when he switc hed lanes just before Center Street.

Chief Dan Lawrence said the dri ver w as apparently already into the intersection when he realized the light w as red. Witnesses said he quic kly tur ned to the right to a void oncoming traffic and hit the nor thbound Diamond Terrace bus as it w as beginning to cross the intersection. There were no skid marks on the pavement and it did not appear that the dri ver of the Mustang applied the brak es, he said. The investigation was not complete at press time.

All three of the elderly passengers w ere belted in and no one w as injured, said dri ver Scott McWhood.

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

CITY

MAINTENANCE CREWS CLEAN UP

Crown your Mom “Queen for a Da y” ENTER BY APRIL 30

Is y our mom simply “the best?” Does she always go “the extra mile” for everyone in the family? Does she alw ays put others first? Has she had to overcome great obstacles to get

where she is? Here’ s y our chance to tell the w orld ho w truly great your mom is.

Write an essay telling us why your mom should be cro wned the Cla yton Pioneer Mother’ s Day “Queen for a Da y,” and win a da y of pampering in Pioneer T erritory for the “queen of your heart.”

If yours is the winning essay, your mom will recei ve a very special gift bask et full of everything she needs to feel pampered, pretty and appreciated. There will be products , services especially for her and special enter tainment sur prises including:

SECTION A Around Town . . . . . . . . . . .A2 Classified Ads . . . . . . . . . . . .A5 Directory of Advertisers . . .A5 Letter to the Editor . . . . . . .A6 Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A8 School News . . . . . . . . . . . . .A9 At the Movies . . . . . . . . . . .A10 Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . .A11 Tech Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A12 For the Books . . . . . . . . . . .A12 Church News . . . . . . . . . . .A13 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A14 Clayton Calendar . . . . . . . .A16 Paws and Claws . . . . . . . . .A17 Financial Sense . . . . . . . . . .A18 Crossword Puzzle . . . . . . . .A18 Senior Moments (New) . . .A19 Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . .A21 SECTION B Home Improvement Resource Guide

A Spring Bouquet from Sonset Flowers An 11 x 14 Portrait from Roberta Claire Photography “Signature Sampler’ massage, facial and body wrap, a $99 value from Clayton Mind and Body in downtown Clayton.

Dinner for Two at La Veranda in Clayton, a $40 value A Facial by Earline from Bella Mia Spa in the Maverick’s Sports Center Tea for Two at Englund’s Tea Cottage in Clayton Station, a $50 value.

A Swarovski Crystal Bracelet from The Royal Rooster in downtown Clayton

A $50 gift certificate from Melanie’s Gifts at R & M Pool, Patio and Garden in Clayton A $25 gift certificate from Beautique Beauty Supply in the Clayton Station A $20 gift certificate from Clayton Books in the Clayton Station

Rally set to save Clayton’s landscaping BILL VINEYARD Special to the Pioneer

But most importantly, this is your c hance to tell the w orld why your mom is the “absolute best.” The Pioneer will publish the winning essa y along with a photo of you and your mom in the May 11 issue.

The “Y es for Cla yton Landscape” committee will hold a kic koff rally at 6:30 p .m.

Friday, April 27, at Ly dia Lane Park.

Clayton’s cur rent Landscape Maintenance District expires on June 30. If it is not re placed by a new district, there will be no funds for ir rigation, pruning, weeding or plant re placement

See Mom, page A6

See Rally, page A11

Local fountains to flow at Ar t and Wine next weekend JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

What’s Inside

after 2001 Mustang collides with Diamond Terrace bus. There were no injuries.

“I lo ve this to wn. I lo ve ev erything about it,” Frankie Quadrato says from his Regency Meadows home.

For the past three months , he and his 15-year-old son Chris have been firing up the welding equipment in their g arage as they handcraft custom fountains to be displayed at this year’ s 12th ann ual Ar t and Wine Festival in downtown Clayton.

Sponsored b y the Cla yton Business and Community Association (CBCA), the festival is set for Saturda y and Sunda y, May 5 and 6. Hours are 10 a.m.-7 p .m.

Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.

The Quadratos are among 140 v endors par ticipating in Ar t and Wine 2007, which promises a hug e selection of wine, food, arts and crafts and music. Chairman Joe Medrano expects it to be the larg est turnout in the event’s history.

The fountain business , called Dream Falls, is a hobb y for the father and son team. They came up with the idea about a year ag o, when Chris ask ed his dad to teach him to weld.

Frankie had already designed and con-

structed a w all fountain for his bac kyard and thought, “Why not mak e this profitable?” The two decided to design, construct and sho wcase their fountains for the first time at last year’ s Ar t and Wine Festival, and the idea w as a g ood one .

Proceeds from the ev ent w ent to Chris’ passion – vintag e cars . He and his dad purchased a 1954 Chevy pic kup, and they plan to use future money from Dream Falls to refurbish the Chevy.

Chris likes to think that the car is his , however, mom Lisa says it’s the family car.

Chris hopes to pursue a career in the automotive industr y and plans to tak e auto shop at Cla yton Valley High Sc hool for the next couple of years.

This year, the Quadratos will feature a variety of free-standing fountains made from slate tile and steel, with bottom screens to add custom décor . “All tubing is copper ,” Frankie notes . “We will also take orders for custom fountains from art and wine visitors.”

“It’s fun,” says Chris. And “rewarding,” adds his father . “We w ant Chris to lear n that he can be creative and profitable at the same time,” Lisa says.

See Art and Wine, page A8

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

FRANKIE QUADRATO

AND SON

CHRIS with the fountain that inspired “Dream Falls.”

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

April 27, 2007

Around Town

YardBIRDS opens in CV Shopping Center

Jane and Stan Zukowski celebrate 50 years Stan and J ane Zukowski of Clayton celebrate their 50th wedding anni versary on April 27 with a ceremony at St. Bonaventure’s Catholic Church followed b y a dinner par ty in San F rancisco hosted b y their family.

Stan and J ane met in 1953 in P awtucket, Rhode Island while attending high sc hool and mar ried in 1957. In 1968 they moved to California.

Jane worked for 30 years for Contra Costa County and

retired in 2004. Stan retired in 2005 as g eneral manag er after 37 years at a w est coast hotel operation.

They ha ve three c hildren, Stan Jr., Michael and Tom and three grandchildren Brian, Kyle and Jenna.

Jane enjo ys w orking out at her athletic club with friends while Stan tends his v egetable garden.

Both enjo y tra veling and they especially lo ve spending time with their g randchildren.

Jill Bedecarré/Clayton Pioneer

CONCORD STORE MANAGER TONY CAITO, Clayton Mayor Bill Walcutt and Concord Vice Mayor Bill Shinn “cut the board” to signify the opening of the new YardBIRDS store in the Clayton Valley Shopping Center.

YardBIRDS at Home Depot is officially open in the Clayton V alley Shopping Center. Last T hursday at 10 a.m. the new store hosted a grand opening dra wing hundreds of customers, city leaders, Home De pot and YardBIRDS Associates and surrounding businesses.

Instead of the traditional ribbon cutting, YardBIRDS invited Cla yton Ma yor Bill Walcutt and Concord’ s vice Mayor Bill Shinn to sa w through a piece of plank wood.

Walcutt and Shinn were named honorary store associates after successfully completing the task. Mayor Walcutt said he will

definitely shop Y ardBIRDS even though the store w as in Concord. “It’s too bad Concord isn ’t g oing to share the sales tax rev enue with Clayton,” said W alcutt, at which point Shinn pulled a few dollars from his w allet and handed it over to his colleague.

In the tradition of giving back to the comm unity, YardBIRDS store manag er Tony Caito presented a $2,000 store gift certificate to the local Boys and Girls Club.

The new 56,000 square foot store brings bac k about 22 associates from the old YardBIRDS in Cla yton V alley Shopping Center . While some

of the layout remains the same, the store is no long er selling lumber in order to focus on more high end products . One of the big gest c hanges is the variety of new appliances that line the entrance w ay as y ou walk in from w ashers and dr yers and kitc hen items to upscale bath basins and f looring.

Other changes include new floors, paint, lighting, entrances and bathrooms . The rac king and displa y fixtures are lo wer than a traditional Home Depot store with a higher percentag e of open space, creating a more inviting shopping experience.

Morgans have a new granddaughter

NORA ROSE WILLIAMS

Grandparents J erry and Nancy Morg an of Clayton welcome the ar rival of their new granddaughter, Nora R ose Williams. She was born on Jan. 4 and w eighed in at 7lbs ., 13 oz and she w as 19.5 inc hes long .

Nora’s parents are J amie and Kelly Williams of Concord.

Nora Rose anticipates many play dates with her Cla yton cousins Ellie and Lucas Hilderbrand.

What’s happening Around Town We w ant to kno w what’s happening in y our families and in y our neighborhoods.

Send y our news of births, engagements weddings, anniversaries, special recognitions, etc. to JANE AND STAN ZUKOWSKi celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on April 27

info@claytonpioneer.com.

(925) 672-8787 www.LynneFrench.com Lynne@LynneFrench.com

S

omeone who’s always on the go and always in the know, Lynne French’s natural energy and positive personality drive her to make the most of every moment, whether it’s in her hobbies, in her home life with husband, Danny, or in her role as one of the area’ s leading real estate professionals.

With such a determined approach, it’s easy to see how Lynne has made such a

lasting impact through her long-running real estate career. By working her hardest and providing the most possible options, she has helped many Discover the Possibilities in the East Bay Area real estate market.

Whether you’re buying or selling, Lynne French and her team are the ones to know for a higher level of service. Give them a call today and experience the difference for yourself.

6200-E Center St.

Clayton, CA 94517

April 27, 2007

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page A3

Around Town Family honors Doreen and Ken Snyder for 50th Anniversary Ken and Doreen ’s Sny der’s children sur prised them with a trip to Las V egas for their 50th Anniversary on April 14. They had 13th ro w tic kets to the Celine Dion sho w and a tw onight stay at the Bellagio Hotel.

They contin ued their v acation several more da ys with a trip to San Diego.

Ken and Doreen met when Ken w as brought o ver to Doreen’s house in Orinda to be introduced b y a m utual friend.

While w alking up to the porc h and seeing Doreen ’s mother , Ken’s thought was, “I’m going to marry this girl. ” He hadn’t even seen her yet, but he just had that gut feeling. The rest is histor y--

50 years of happiness, laughter, tears, family and love.

The couple has three c hildren, Lynn (Sny der) Da vis Lori (Snyder) Benti voglio and K urt Snyder, and four grandchildren.

Doreen and Ken Snyder at their wedding on April 14, 1957.

Photos courtesy of Snyder family.

Doreen and Ken Snyder celebrated their 50th anniversary April 14.

Clayton $515,000 Chaparral Springs T ownhome – Wonderful singlestory 2BD/2B A sho ws beautifully! Nestled up to Oakhurst’s 15th hole , surrounded b y g reenery with a great patio and tasteful landscaping. Community amenities inc. pool & spa!

Students’ masks become part of local collection ARLENE KIKKAWA-NIELSEN Special to the Pioneer

Wonderfully creative and colorful masks designed b y Mt. Diablo Elementar y fifth-g raders have been dra wing attention at the Cla yton Librar y. The masks

by Diahnn Goldsmith’s students were brought to the librar y as part of last month’ s Creekside Arts Event.

Branch Librarian K aren Hansen-Smith is delighted b y the masks and said they all ha ve been recei ving g reat admiration from the public. The two created

by Alaina Campbell and Sara Johnson caught the special attention of local lighting designer Ron Smits and his artist wife Ronia.

Although the Smits hadn ’t collected c hildren’s ar t before , they were so taken by the creative display they couldn ’t resist inquiring about the tw o whimsical objects. They offered to buy them for $20 a piece to add to their collection of contemporary art.

Although they were informed that the masks w ere for displa y only, the request w as forw arded to Goldsmith. She immediately informed the class , and all the students were excited to hear the unanticipated news . The purchase offer was accepted.

To debut the tw o masks in their new location, the Smits held a special rece ption on April 7 in their home . They in vited Alaina and Sara, along with their mothers, Michelle Campbell and Janelle J ohnson, and their teacher.

“I think it w as an honor and unforgettable experience , because not many kids that are

Clayton $612,000 Black Diamond Duet – Gorgeous home – spacious and open with 3BD/2.5BA has newer carpet, fresh paint & kitc hen w/breakfast nook & pantr y. Main li ving w/soaring ceilings , cozy fire place & built-in enter tainment center.

Arlene Kikkawa-Nielsen/Clayton Library

ALAINA CAMPBELL, LEFT, AND SARA JOHNSON show off the masks purchased by Ron and Ronia Smits, on the right. The masks were displayed at the Clayton Arts Celebration in March.

the ag e of 10 and 11 years old have sold a piece of artwork,” says Alaina. She no w w ants to visit San Francisco art museums to learn more about art.

“I am so proud to ha ve m y art hanging up next to all of that beautiful ar t in R on and R onia’s house,” adds Sara.

Goldsmith encourag es creative expression in her lessons and believ es ar t should be promoted b y all. Her students feel proud that their masks are on display in the librar y and re port that a lot of people they kno w have seen their artwork.

The rest of the masks will be on displa y throughout the month of May. But better come and see them quic kly, before more offers are made.

Professional achievement for Crane, Stimac Clayton resident and financial services professional, Kelly Crane has ac hieved the T op of the Table award from the Million Dollar Round Table, an association of financial professionals.

Clayton $619,980 Greystone Duet – Bright & sunny - enjo y this 4BD/2.5BA home w/maple floors, large kitchen/dining combo room w/wet bar. Fantastic master suite with a view! Landscaped rear yard w/patio. Family-friendly culde-sac location.

Clayton medical assistant Deborah A Stimac has ear ned the prestigious Cer tified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential. She is a J an. 12, 2007 graduate of the medical assisting prog ram at W estern Career College in Pleasant Hill.

$695,000 Clayton Mitchell Canyon Estates – 3BD/2BA in sought-after neighborhood w/g reat curb appeal. Nearly 1,500 s .f., well-maintained w/hardw ood f loors & new er car pet.

Beautiful, large yards & pri vate bac kyard with Mt. Diablo views.

J

$774,980 Clayton Regency W oods – An ex cellent family home with 4BD/2.5 BA and a flowing, fresh floorplan featuring an updated kitchen w/paneled appliances & wine storag e.

Gorgeous f loors r un throughout. Open family room w/view to pool.

Clayton $789,980 Clayton Greens – Filled with light, this 4BD/2.5BA is updated, freshly painted and mo ve-in ready for the family that w ants the best! Pri vate, backyard paradise w/ gorgeous pool, gourmet kitchen, formal dining and living rooms.

Clayton $848,888 Casey Glen – 5BD/3BA includes an in-law/office quarters w/se parate entr y. An amazing 2,600 s .f. w/ an updated kitc hen. Private cour t location in desirable neighborhood close to ev erything! Bac kyard w/patios , pool and hot tub.

D

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Concord $1,019,980 Crystyl R anch – Spacious W aterford model has 5BD/3.5BA with a bed/bath suite do wnstairs.

Oversized windows & soaring ceilings highlight the formal li ving area. Refined for mal dining, family room w/fireplace & a g ourmet kitchen!

Page A4

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

April 27, 2007

Diablo View honored as Califor nia Distinguished School JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

Diablo View Middle Sc hool (DVMS) has been named a 2007 California Distinguished Sc hool, an annual award that recognizes some of the state’s most ex emplary public schools.

According to the Califor nia Department of Education, Diablo View was one of 76 middle schools chosen for this prestigious award, which is v alid for five years.

“In the end, what this a ward says to me is that what w e’re doing here is w orking for our students,” says D VMS Principal Michelle Cooper.

She admits g etting emotional about the role that D VMS plays in the students’ lives. “We are working with pre-adolescents and middle sc hool c hildren to help them become academically successful and ac hieve their potential. It’s about the whole child,” she adds.

She explains that the selection process is g rueling, beginning with a v oluntary commitment to apply for the a ward.

Middle schools and high schools can apply for the distinguished commendation every other year .

“We had an opportunity to apply

DVMS DISTINGUISHED SCHOOL AWARD TEAM worked for endless hours on the application package: Front row: Sylvia Chatagnier, Patti Bannister, Paula Loeffler. Back Row: Michelle Cooper, Scott Ross. two years ag o, but w e didn’t g o for it, ” Cooper sa ys. “Our staff discussed it. We knew w e w ere great, but we weren’t ready to go through the process . It’s suc h a huge endeavor.”

This year , Cooper sa ys, the

school and her a ward team w ere ready to g o forw ard. Diablo View had qualified through academic perfor mance requirements, Star T esting, adequate yearly prog ress and state accountability measures based

on No Child Left Behind.

In No vember, the sc hool received a 20-pag e comprehensive document that w as due within a month. The rubric document w as v ery detailed, asking the school to cite g oals, academ-

ic and enrichment programs and school climate in relation to an intense list of selection criteria – from a sc hool’s comprehensi ve guidance and counseling programs to prog rams that foster wellness and healthy behaviors.

The application calls for a school to re port on its strong core cur riculum in all required subject areas , as w ell as a safe school culture that suppor ts the inclusion of all students with proactive policies that prev ent bullying.

This year , 478 middle and high sc hools met the eligibility .

Of those, 279 submitted applications and 171 g ot the a ward, explains Cooper.

“We had a g reat team, ” Cooper says, citing parent Dana Tarantino, teachers Scott R oss, Paula Loeff ler and Sylvia Chatagnier, and vice principal Patti Bannister.

“We submitted one cohesi ve application pac kage,” Cooper reports. “We didn ’t embellish anything. We did not w ant to compromise our integrity.”

Following the intensive application process, a team from the state spent a da y at Diablo View “to deter mine that what w e said in the application is exactly what we are doing.”

On April 16, Cooper received a call from J ack O’Connell, the state superintendent of public instruction, congratulating her on the sc hool’s distinguished award.

“It’s great for the community, because it increases property values,” she sa ys. City Manag er Gary Napper agrees. “The award speaks well of the city,” he says.

“People do come here for the schools,” he explains, adding that he w as impressed with the schools when he w as looking to purchase a home here . “The administration (at Diablo View) has motivation to be successful,” Napper adds.

“All of this hard work means something. Sometimes y ou g et isolated on campus, and teachers don’t realize ho w ex ceptional their sc hool really is ,” notes Cooper. “We are distinguishable.

We tr uly are an ex ceptional school.”

On Ma y 18, a conting ency from Diablo View will visit Disneyland in Anaheim to accept the award. At 8:30 a.m. on May 23, Diablo View will host a flag-raising ceremony and all the students will toast the raising of the distinguished f lag with doughnuts.

Lawrence, Clayton police will not spend m uch more time tr ying to crac k this case . “There wasn’t any victim, and y ou just can’t track these guys down,” he

said. “The reality is, no one will be arrested or go to jail for this.

“Beware of these scams,” he added, “and letters from someone named Jason.”

Think you won the lottery? Think again TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer

The lotter y scammers are one sucker short this week.

Last week, a Clayton resident received a v ery official-looking letter in the mail declaring him the winner of $125,000 in the “SuperMega Lotto 6/42.”

The letter w as accompanied by a v ery real-looking cashier’ s check for $2,955.61 as a de posit on the winnings. To get the rest of the $125,000, all he had to do was send in $2,455.61 to pre pay the “taxes” on the winnings.

Sound too g ood to be tr ue?

Well, of course, it was.

Some sleuthing (and pa yment of the bank’s $10 fee) b y the Cla yton P olice pro ved that the c heck, written on a small Ohio bank, was a fake.

Police ser vices coordinator Lynn Christ then called the phone number on the letter and spoke to the “J ason Dundas” who signed the letter. According to the letter , our Claytonian had been selected as a winner because his credit card had been used during the holida ys. Posing

as the winner, Christ asked which credit card had been selected.

Dodging, “Jason” answered: “I can’t disclose that.”

But he did tell Christ he would “release the hold” on her $2,955.61 c heck; she w as to g o to her bank and de posit it within the hour and immediately send in her $2,455.61 in “surcharges.” Only then w ould he release the rest of the winnings.

Christ remembered seeing a March 20 NBC “Dateline” report on this v ery scam (“T o Catch a Con Man”). According

to the “Dateline” report, the scam w orks often enough to keep the scammers coming back for more . The cashier’ s c heck angle works because it typically takes a bank a couple of weeks to figure out the sting.

And these scammers are low on the FBI radar . Homeland security issues take precedence.

According to Chief Dan

Full Service Auto Care All types of mechanical repairs and computer diagnostics including 30K, 60K, 90K factory maintenance on all European, Imported and domestic vehicles.

Official Call for

Smog Te st Repair S and tation

d kup an free pic delivery

THIS TWO PAGE LETTER declaring the recipient a lottery winner looks and sounds official, but is a complete fake, as is the cashier’s check above. The scam was the subject of a Mar. 20 Dateline show.

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April 27, 2007

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page A5

Classified HELP WANTED

Assistant Part-time Woman owned home based business. Must know Word and Excel, QuickBooks a plus. 20 hours per wk min hrs flexible. Call 925-524-0305.

Office Personnel/ Sales Support Help wanted - Office personnel and sales support for Gesinee’s Bridal. Call Sara at 925-686-6444.

Retail Clothing Sales – McGuire Harley-Davidson has an opening in Retail Clothing/General Merchandise Sales at our Pittsburg, CA Location, 9 miles from Clayton.

Responsibilities include Cash Register Operation, Clothing Sales, and Stocking Displays.

Competitive wages and benefits. Retail experience is preferred, but not essential.

Contact David MacDonald @ 925-427-2700 or Email resume to devilmountainhd@yahoo.com

PETS

Pet Sitting Memorial Day is approaching. Traveling? Don’t forget about your pets. Call local resident Linda Pastor at 6729781 or 202-8781.Licenesed, insured, bonded. Reasonable rates.

SERVICES

Perennial Garden Design by Nicole Hackett AKA The Garden Girl Personal consultations regarding plant choices, placement, identification, fertilizing and maintenance. Spring is just around the corner. Call or email for information and pricing. 925-673-1746 (leave message) gardengirl94517@ yahoo.com.

VACATION

RENTAL

Cabin in Blue Lake Springs (Arnold, CA).

Sleeps 6, fully remodeled, quiet, use of recreation facilities. $150/night, $950/week. Call Kevin Parker @ (925) 3839430 or http://www.vrconnection.com/ parkerpaw.

VOLUNTEERS WANTED

Greeter Clayton Historical Society Museum needs a greeter the second Sun. of each month from 2 - 4 p.m. Training is provided. If interested, call 672-0240, email claytonmuseum@sbcglobal.net or visit the museum between 2 and 4 p.m. on Wed. or Sun. The Clayton Community Library is seeking to fill the

following volunteer positions: (All positions require a minimum age of 13 years and a 6month commitment. Training will be provided). Shelver to shelve and sensitize books.

Must be detail oriented, various days and hours.

Tutor/Homework Helper to work one-on-one with local students in our community.

You choose the age range, subjects, remedial or light help, and days/times. Office Assistant - handle filing, word processing, create flyers, volunteer database input on Microsoft Access, assistance with meetings/programs. Contact: Arlene @ 673-9777 or email: akikkawa@ccclib.org.

To place a classified ad, call 925-672-0500 or visit our website www.claytonpioneer.com

925-686-5959 www.ggSatelliteTV.com DIRECTV AUTHORIZED DEALER

***To access DIRECTV HD programming, a triple-LNB Multi-Satellite dish, along with a DIRECTV Receiver , HD television equipment and HD Access Fee ($9.99/mo.) is required. In some market s, a five-LNB Dish and H20 model DIRECTV Receiver are needed to receive HD local networks delivered by DIRECTV . †Eligibility based on service address. INSTALLATION: Custom inst allation extra. SYSTEM LEASE: Purchase of 12 consecutive months (24 months for advanced receivers) of any DIRECTV base programming ($29.99/mo. or above) or qualifying international services bundle required. FAILURE TO ACTIVATE ALL DIRECTV SYSTEM EQUIPMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EQUIPMENT LEASE ADDENDUM MAY RESULT IN A CHARGE OF $150 PE R RECEIVER NOT ACTIVATED. IF YOU FAIL TO MAINTAIN YOUR PROGRAMMING COMMITMENT, DIRECTV MAY CHARGE A PRORATED FEE OF UP TO $300. RECEI VERS ARE AT ALL TIMES PROPERTY OF DIRECTV AND MUST BE RETURNED UPON CANCELLATION OF SERVICE OR ADDITIONAL FEES MAY APPLY. VISIT directv.com OR CALL 1-800 DIRECTV FOR DETAILS. In certain markets, programming/pricing may vary. Package pricing at directv.com/packages. DIRECTV System has feature that restricts access to channels. Programming, pricing, terms and conditions subject to change. Pricing is residential.

Taxes not included. Receipt of directv programming is subject to the terms of the DIRECTV Customer Agreement;copy provided at directv.com/legal and in your first bill. Hardware and programming available sep arately. Major League Baseball trademarks and c opyrights are used with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. Visit MLB.com ©2007 DIRECTV, Inc. DIRECTV and the Cyclone Design Logo are registered trademarks of DIRECTV , Inc. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

PIONEER INFO Tel: (925) 672-0500 Fax: (925) 672-6580

CONTACT US Tamara Steiner tamara@claytonpioneer.com Jill Bedecarre jill@claytonpioneer.com Beth Neudell beth@claytonpioneer.com Deanna Merrigan sports@claytonpioneer.com Send ads to ads@claytonpioneer.com Send Sports News to sports@claytonpioneer.com Send Club News to clubnews@ claytonpioneer.com Send Church News to churchnews@ claytonpioneer.com

HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD Classified rates per insertion: Non-profit: $12 for first 30 words, $.20 eac h additional word Individual/non-commercial: $18 for first 30 w ords, $.30 each additional word Commercial: $48 for first 30 words, $.40 eac h additional word To place y our classified ad over the phone, call the office at (925) 672-0500 betw een 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. Or, you ma y fax y our typewritten ad and credit card information to (925) 672-6580 All classifieds must be paid for in adv ance b y credit card (Master Card or Visa) We will not accept any ad that

discriminates on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, nationality, family status or disability .

The Cla yton Pioneer reser ves the right to reject any adv ertising we believe is unsuitable.

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 for m for y our announcement on our W ebsite.

Attach your photo to the for m.

Also on our W ebsite are forms for submitting Community Calendar items and press releases for y our organization.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Cla yton Pioneer w elcomes letters from our readers .

As a general rule, letters should be less than tw o double spaced pages and submitted at least one w eek 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 y our name , address and da ytime tele phone number. We will not print letters from “anonymous.”

E-mail your letter in a Word document attac hment to tamara@claytonpioneer.com.

Letters MUST be submitted via

E-mail or on a CD or disc. We cannot retype letters.

P.O. Box 1246 6200 Center Street, Suite F Clayton, CA 94517 Office: 925.672.0500 Fax: 925.672.6580 TAMARA

AND

R OBERT S TEINER , Publishers

TAMARA S TEINER , Editor J ILL B EDECARRÉ , Assistant Editor and Display Advertising P ETE C RUZ , Graphic Design D EANNA M ERRIGAN , Sports B EV B RITTON , Copy Editor and Feature Writer B ETH N EUDELL , Administrative Assistant

Directory of Advertisers

Abbey Carpets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .686-9901 Acupressure for Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .674-0767 Accent Countertops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .671-2886 Aegis of Concord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .692-5838 All Bright Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-5900 Aircloud Wireless Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .260-4119 Andrus, Randi - Keller Williams Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .381-0659 Applause Staging and Interiors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-7701 Art and Wine Festival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2272 Barta Chiropractic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-4941 Bell, Glen - Keller Williams Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .510-333-4460 Bella Mia Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .680-7792 Benton, Mureleen - Ameriprise Financial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .685-4523 Beautique Beauty Supply and Salon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0405 Bill's Ace Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825-4100 Burkin Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1519 Butterfly Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4238 Calkins, Bill - Charlotte Clifford Realtors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-9164 Carol Keane and Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .937-5200 CD Federal Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825-0900 Chic'z on the Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-877-933-6644 Clark, Robert C., D.O. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .969-7530 Clayton Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-3325 Clayton Financial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-5470 Clayton Fitness and Tanning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2010 Clayton Mind and Body Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-0686 Clayton Valley Bowl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-4631 Clayton Valley Frameworks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6066 Clayton Valley Medical Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6744 Clayton Valley Presbyterian Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4848 Clayton Valley Shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-3900 Clayton Valley Villa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-8401 Computers USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9989 ComUnity Lending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-5363 Cruise Adventures Unlimited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .935-7447 CTA Crossroads Theatre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .944-0597 Dan and Dave's Cat Boarding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0652 Denim & Lace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0345 Diamond Terrace Senior Retirement Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-5100 Dromlewicz, Kim - Century 21 Hosking Assoc. . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-4663 Easton, Martin - Liberty Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-8552 Easy Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-3476 Englund's Tea Cottage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-8327 Eternal Life Lutheran Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0295 Flannery, Patty - Diablo Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0541 French, Lynne - Windemere Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-8787 Gesinee's Bridal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .686-6444 Golden Gate Satellite TV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .686-5959 Hatley Handyman Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .680-8554 Help - U - Sell Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .680-4950 Hudak, Jim - Pianist and Composer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-7293 Insite Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-6460 Kavanaugh, Mike Re Max Accord Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . .383-6102 Kelly Marshall Garden Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .914-0327 Laurence, Pete - Better Homes Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .939-7920 Lampo, Allen - John Hancock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .681-4438 La Veranda Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0011 Littorno, Richard - Attorney at Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6463 Marchione, Terry - Eagles Peak Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .465-0435 Michael Dwyer & Sons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-3980 Mike's Auto Body . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-1739 Monte Vista Veterinary Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1100 Moon, Steven Dr., Chiropractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-8400 Morucci, Kim - Intero Real Estate Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .280-8563 Music Together . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .946-2990 National Energy Rebate Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .800-957-4544 Nationwide Real Estate Investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .777-1920 Nature's Creations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .800-624-2188 Navlet's Garden Centers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .681-0550 Neptune Society of Northern California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .944-5100 Nichols Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9955 Nickerson, Glenna - Diablo Funding Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .227-0100 Nuchols, Alicia - Premier Home Loans . . . . . . . . . . . . . .691-5070 X 323 Ouimet Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-4242 Peregrine Lending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .627-2564 Postal Annex + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-8900 Quantum Stress and Pain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .459-8595 R&M Pool, Patio & Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0207 R.E. Carpet Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .595-8623 Reed, Ruth - Remax Accord Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .260-6731 Roberta Claire Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .625-1123 Robin's Ranches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-7323 Rocco's Ristorante & Pizzeria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .947-6105 Skylark Equestrian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .516-5942 Smith Bernal Roofing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0138 Sonset Flowers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .685-8200 Sparkle Pools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .260-5025 Stone Tree Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-2094 Straight Line Imports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .335-9801 The Home Depot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2790 The Maids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-6243 The Royal Rooster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2025 The UPS Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-6245 The Window Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-1930 Tipperary Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-2679 Van Wyck, Doug - State Farm Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2300 Vujnovich, George - Better Homes Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4433 Williams, Mike - Williams Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .260-5363 Wooden It Be Nice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-5595

Page A6

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

April 27, 2007

Hospice sponsors A Walk to Remember If you’ve lost someone special in your life that y ou would like to honor , consider participating in A W alk to Remember, sponsored b y Hospice of Contra Costa Foundation.

The w alk will be on Saturday, May 19, at the J ohn Muir Amphitheater in the Martinez Marina, 115

Tarantino Dr. For a tax-deductible donation of $25, an entire family can join in the w alk anytime between 10 a.m. and 4 p .m.

There will be food, music and a special noontime Memor y Lap when names of the people whose lives are being celebrated will be read.

Those unable to par ticipate

can still g ather pledg es, and a hospice volunteer will walk for you. You can submit a 5 b y 7 photocopy of a photo of the loved one to be displayed along the Memor y Lane, whether or not you plan to walk.

Funds raised will benefit the patients and families in the care of Hospice and P alliative Care of Contra Costa.

Established in 1977, the notfor-profit ag ency helps people cope with life-threatening illnesses b y pro viding medical, emotional, spiritual and practical suppor t for patients and families, regardless of their ability to pay.

For more infor mation or registration for ms, call K athy Kavanagh at 887-5678.

The recent fire has not shut our doors. We will open April 30 in temporary quarters (across the parking lot) at 5356 Clayton Road.

Place online orders at

www.sonsetflowers.com

major credit cards honored

toll free 800-603-ROSE (7673)

Letter to the editor More on CCC land purchase Regarding the proposed CCC building project in do wntown Clayton, we believe it will be a v ery positi ve addition to Clayton. In tra vels around the USA and other countries , we have obser ved that the many churches are consistently significant landmarks ref lecting the values and arc hitecture of the community. Endeavor Hall comes to mind.

Apparently, the o wner of this proper ty has the desire to sell it to CCC and not the City

To be eligible , you must be a Clayton resident between the ages of 6 and 18. Your essa y should be typewritten and at least 200 w ords and no long er than 350 w ords. If you don ’t have access to a typewriter or computer, please print it clearly. Please mak e sure y our name, address, age and phone

Calling all Claytonians Individuals, homeowners’ associations, neighborhood groups, service clubs…

Come one, come all

Photo courtesy of the Clayton Historical Society

Help clean Clayton’s creeks, trails and parks

Teacher shortage not a new pr oblem

number are on your essay.

Mail or e-mail your essay to The Clayton Pioneer, PO Box 1246, Clayton, 94517; essay@claytonpioneer.com, or drop off at the Pioneer office at 6200 F Center St., Clayton.

Deadline for entries is 5 p .m., April 30.

phone (925) 685-8200 fax (925) 685-0633

Old Times in Clayton

of Clayton or any other entity .

General appro val should be forthcoming from our Cla yton City Council subject to review of the finalized plans , of course.

I cannot help but w onder if some of the opponents of the church building project are any of the same citizens who w ere proponents of the ill advised gas station which was proposed for the current Longs location?

For the record, we ha ve no personal affiliation with CCC. Sincerely, Dewey Dobson, Sheila Driscoll

Mom, from page A1

wire service specialists

The Morg an T erritory Sc hool, with an enrollment of 15 students, closed in 1947 and didn ’t reopen. It w as difficult finding a teacher to live so far out in the country, and to make matters worse, there were no rooms available to board a teacher.

After 1947, the students of Morgan Territory rode the bus to school in Concord.

The school building and land w ere given to the comm unity for use as a hall but shor tly thereafter it burned down.

According to Bill Morg an, who completed the eighth g rade at the sc hool in 1946, the sc hool w as located on the w est side of Morgan Territory just before Cur ry Creek and adjacent to Doroth y Wright’s property. A modern home with a vineyard no w stands on the old school property.

Meet in the City Hall courtyard, 6000 Heritage Trail, Rain or Shine

Saturday, April 28, 9 a.m. – noon BBQ lunch follows at City Hall For more information, call 673-7300 Sponsored by:

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Well-maintained, spacious, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home - 1,378 s.f.

Fresh interior paint, baseboards and covering, retextured ceilings.

Remodeled guest & master bathrooms.

Dining area, central heat and air, enclosed patio with beautiful trees.

Two car attached garage and amenities including clubhouse, greenbelt and pool with wonderful Mt. Diablo and valley views.

Lovely 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home, 1,457 s.f. with dual-pane windows.

Amazing kitchen updates - Pergo flooring, Corian counters, and new appliances.

New paint, wainscoting, crown molding and baseboards.

Powder rooms completely updated with decorator lighting, fixtures & fans. Updated central HVAC with energy efficient furnace.

Charming 2 bedroom, 1 bath home.

Large, flat yards with patio and space for a hot tub One car attached garage with opener Carpet over hardwood floors.

Cozy woodburning fireplace in the living room

Ruth Reed (925) 283-9200 (office) Realtor ruthreed@remaxaccord.com homesbyRuth.com

(925) 260-6731 (cellular) (925) 297-0300 (fax)

April 27, 2007

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com

Page A7

From bricks to books, library foundation has gift ideas If you are looking for a gift for Mother’ s or F ather’s da y, look no fur ther than our local library. The Clayton Community Library F oundation has sev eral gift suggestions to fill the bill.

You can buy a bric k, which

will be installed along the w alkway leading to the librar y from Clayton R oad. Cost is $55 for three lines of engraving, with 20 characters per line. A new order will be placed in June, and a gift card can be sent to the recipient.

Another w onderful gift is the librar y’s book bag in hea vy-

Mayor, from page A1 Everyone should meet at the City Hall courtyard on Saturday.

Now, on to g arbage. We are required to recycle 50 percent of our household g arbage or the city is subject to a $10,000 per day fine by the state. Sacramento passed a g arbage bill sev eral years ag o with a mandate for compliance in 2000.

We did not meet the 2000 garbage deadline , so the city requested an extension and a new compliance date at the end of 2003. This request had to g o before the state Waste Board.

I am serious; Sacramento has a Waste Board. Just think of all the potential for this W aste Board if it w ere fully utilized.

Your mind just g oes wild.

Wouldn’t it be nice if all legislation, all mandates and all programs coming out of Sacramento had to go before the state W aste Board? Sacramento could easily reac h a 50 percent “garbage” diversion rate.

Sorry, I g ot sidetracked. The reason I am mentioning recycling is because our curbside diversion rate is slipping . In

duty red can vas. The bottom is gusseted and stands easily for filling. These bags are a barg ain at $10.

Buy A Book is also a vailable as a way to honor or memorialize someone. Fiction books can be purchased for $25 or non-fiction for $50.

Membership in the Cla yton Community Library Foundation is another gift option. Cost is $10 for an indi vidual and $15 for a family , as w ell as sev eral higher categ ories. This is a gift that any librar y/book lo ver is sure to appreciate.

“Clayton Cooks …” is a col-

lection of favorite recipes , including some b y local celebrities suc h as Greg g and J oan Manning, Joan Culv er, Susan Fossan and Skip Ipsen. Cost is $5.

The librar y foundation also offers T -shirts for adults and children in red and blue , sport-

February, we only recycled 45.9 percent. We are a little o ver 4 percent below the state-mandated n umber. We are close , but that does not count with the state’s g arbage police , also known as the state W aste Board (I just love that name).

If we do not increase our diversion rate , we are g oing to have to modify the city’ s Waste Management Plan. I am not kidding, the city has a W aste Management Plan, and the next steps are more costly.

We can do this with y our help. The easiest way is to downsize y our blue can so that y our brown can is big ger. You will

also save money on your monthly bill if you do wnsize. Allied Waste Ser vices randomly analyzes the contents of our blue cans, and they ha ve indicated that more than 20 percent of what w e are cur rently dumping in there can be recycled.

For more info on recycling, go to http://a wsccc.com. What a deal – and y ou thought this all was garbage.

As Will R oger once said: “I don’t make jokes. I just watch the government and re port the facts.”

If you ha ve any questions , concerns, comments or ad vice, please send me an email at wrwalcutt@aol.com.

Blue Star Moms need donations for July 4 mailing to troops The Blue Star Moms are seeking donations as they prepare their ann ual 4th of July care pac kage mailing to the troops. The theme this year is “A Hero’s Picnic.”

Individual size items of things lik e Gatorade , trail mix and c hips are sug gested, along with small spor ts equipment such as F risbees and y o-yos.

For a complete list of items, v i s i t www.bluestarmoms.org/donate .html.

The Blue Star Moms ha ve joined tog ether to share their pride, devotion and worries for the sons and daughters ser ving in the Ar med F orced. Becky Williams of Concord joined the group last J une, when her son was de ployed to Iraq. Airman First Class Eric Martin spent six months there and is no w stationed in Louisiana.

“We have small group meetings at member’s houses where we can talk about our kids and the emotional roller coaster w e go through when they are deployed,” Williams says.

ing the 94517 log o. Cost is $14 for adult shirts and $10 for children’s.

All proceeds from sales g o to purc hase new materials for the Cla yton Comm unity Library. Order forms are available at the librar y or at www.claytonlibrary.org.

During last year’s Christmas mailing, the moms sent 3,000 boxes to troops o verseas.

“We’ve also tak en requests from hospitals for the w ounded,” she adds , noting that the group recently sent hand-sewn pillowcases to a Palo Alto facility and scr ubs to a hospital in Baghdad.

The group will be acce pting “A Hero’s Picnic” donations at the following locations: Martinez W alMart, 1201 Arnold Dr . 10 a.m.-3 p .m.

April 28 and 29.

Concord Veterans Building, 2290 Willow Pass Road, and the Dan ville V eterans Building, 400 Har tz A ve. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. May 5.

Pleasanton W alMart, 4501 Rosewood Dr ., Pleasanton.

10 a.m.-3 p .m. June 9 and 10.

Operation Postcard will also be available at all of the sites, so people can send a messag e to the troops.

For mor e infor mation, call Williams at 286-1728.

In the Clayton Station New Owners and Clayton residents

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Page A8

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

April 27, 2007

Sometimes a loan is worth the risk of negative amortization LYNNE FRENCH

REAL ESTATE A couple recently mo ved from the Midw est to the Ba y Area. They had no trouble selling their Wisconsin home , but they had difficulty qualifying to buy a home in the pricey Ba y Area.

To mak e qualifying easier , they used an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) with a payment cap.

ARMs ha ve an interest rate that f luctuates during the ter m of the loan. The specifics of how an ARM w orks varies with

the type of loan and the lender .

But most ARMs ha ve limits on how high the interest rate can go at each adjustment (called a periodic cap) and over the life of the loan (called a lifetime cap).

Some ARMs ha ve pa yment caps that set limits on ho w high the monthly pa yment can g o when the interest rate rises.

ARMs that ha ve pa yment caps usually limit the amount the monthly payment can increase at each interest rate adjustment to 7.5 percent of the previous payment amount. If the amount of interest o wed ex ceeds the capped payment amount and the borrower c hooses to pa y only the minimum payment due, negative amortization can occur.

Even though your payment is

Film focuses on world peace The public is in vited to a free viewing of the documentary “T he Promise of World Peace,” followed b y a discussion. The film begins at 4 p .m.

Sunday, April 29, in the mo vie room at Diamond Terrace, 6401 Center St., Clayton.

The documentar y is based on the follo wing statements:

“The winds of despair, are, alas, blowing from ev ery direction, and the strife that di vides and afflicts the human race is daily increasing. These fr uitless strifes, these r uinous wars shall pass away, and the ‘Most Great Peace’ shall come.”

For mor e infor mation, call Guity Kiani at 672-1095.

Art and Wine, Dream Falls will join a hug e roster of arts and crafts offerings, from handmade soap and wooden toys to diac hromic jewelry and w atercolors b y local artist Ead Surachai.

Music lo vers will g ather around to hear countr y-western band La Deana, R&B band the PHDs, jazz offerings by Point of Return and the rock band Loose Change.

Local resident Jim Diaz will bring his famous ’50s and ’60s rock band, the Venturas, to the bandstand on Sunda y. And the Pastel Six will feature their 1960’s billboard hit “Cinnamon Cinder.”

The idea for the Ar t and Wine F estival came about lik e most ideas do when people who love their city w ant to give back.

Medrano explains that sev eral active residents decided to try an art and wine ev ent to raise money in the mid-’90s . A few thousand people came to the first art and wine ev ent, and the CBCA raised a few thousand dollars in the process.

Crowds, vendors and profits have increased since then. From 25 vendors 12 years ag o to w ell

from page A1

over a hundred v endors sc heduled this year and an anticipated crowd of more than 25,000 people, Art and Wine has prospered.

Although Medrano chairs the event, he says it takes a village to run it. Hundreds of volunteers come out eac h year to help , including 20 indi vidual committees within CBCA, Clayton Valley High students , police, community leaders and families .

“With 12 years under our belt, we follo w a pla ybook,” says Medrano. And that pla ybook gets fine-tuned each year.

All the wine is donated, which ups the ante for proceeds that find their w ay back into the community. Wine v endors lik e Don & Sons Sebastiani, Constellation, Jack’s P atio and Robert Monda vi Pri vate Selection will offer their cream of the crop at this year’ s ev ent.

“Trinchero family estates has donated their wines all 12 years,” notes Medrano.

Profits from wine sales open the door for the CBCA to donate a g azebo for T he Grove, Clayton’s new park. The g azebo is now estimated at $75,000, with an added sound system, explains

Charlotte Clifford Realtors

capped, you are not reliev ed of the responsibility for pa ying the additional interest due . The payment of this interest is defer red and is added to the remaining loan balance. When this happens, your loan balance increases with each mor tgage pa yment. This is called negative amortization.

Some borrowers are afraid of ARMs that ha ve the possibility of negative amor tization.

Usually, they don ’t understand how these loans work. Although there are risks in volved, ARMs with payment caps have benefits for some borrowers.

For instance , ARMs that are tied to the Elev enth District Cost of Funds Index (COFI) are noted for their lo w v olatility.

However, most COFI ARMs have payment caps.

Most ARMs with pa yment caps gi ve y ou three pa yment options. You can make a regular, or fully amor tized, payment.

Fully amor tized payments pay a loan off in full during the loan term (usually 30 years).

Each monthly payment pays the entire amount of the interest o wed, plus a por tion of the principal loan amount.

Another option, which costs less than an amortizing payment, is to mak e an interest-only pa yment. Or y ou can mak e the capped pa yment, which is the minimum amount due.

If you select either of the first two payment options above,

you’ll a void neg ative amor tization.

ARMs with payment caps are often the loan of choice for borrowers who w ork on commission. An ARM with a pa yment cap gi ves the bor rower the option of paying the minim um payment due during lean months. When income increases, the bor rower can mak e larg er monthly pa yments and pa y off any accrued interest.

An ARM with a payment cap might be attracti ve to a salaried borrower who is experiencing a temporary decline in income .

This loan is also popular with homebuyers who buy a new home before selling their current home. In either case , the minimum pa yment due option can come in handy.

There is less risk with neg ative amor tization when home prices are rising . When property values are falling, however, these loans can be risky if you have to sell in a down market. If you buy with 5 or 10 percent do wn and interest rates rise and proper ty values drop, you could find that the remaining amount due on your mor tgage is more than the sale price of your home.

Medrano. CBCA also pro vides high sc hool senior sc holarships, air conditioning for Mt. Diablo Elementary Sc hool and other local school donations.

Medrano attributes w eekend tax rev enues to the success of Art and Wine, which brings people from all over the Bay Area to Clayton and its restaurants and retail operations.

With the amount of people anticipated and the cur rent construction scene in do wntown Clayton, parking for this year’ s Art and Wine demands some creativity. The Longs Dr ugs store constr uction next to Diamond T errace and demolition in the park area precludes those spaces for visitor and v endor parking, however, Medrano says an alternate plan is in place .

“Please be patient,” he advises.

There will be four parking venues throughout the city , including the Easley property on Marsh Creek Road, the lot across from the Easley property, the lot behind Mt. Diablo Elementar y School and the lot belo w Oakhurst Countr y Club . Bus service from these sites to the downtown area will run every 15 minutes throughout the w eekend.

Although this year’ s Ar t and Wine Festival is just around the

corner, Medrano already has his sights set for next year , incorporating T he Grove into the 2008 festival la yout. “It will be a redesigned Ar t and Wine ,” Medrano says.

For mor e infor mation, call the CBCA at 672-2272.

Clayton resident Lynne French is the broker/owner of Windermere L ynne French & Associates. For any real estate needs, contact her at 672-8787, email Lynne@LynneFrench.com or stop in at 6200 Center St. in Clayton.

With 28 years of real estate sales experience Clifford Realtors will provide you with reliable, knowledgeable, and attentive service when buying or selling your home.

At Clifford Realtors, we offer you ALL the services available from any of the big companies, combined with the personal touch that only a one-on-one local agency can provide without all the overhead.

You won’t feel like you are just another client lost in the shuffle and you won’t get “passed” over to an assistant ever ! Your needs are important to us, and as your AGENT we will be with you every step of the process, from the first Call to the Close of Escrow.

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Call Bill Calkins at 673-9164 Clifford Realtors is a proud sponsor the CVLL Minor A Reds.

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April 27, 2007

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com

Page A9

School News T

his historic Clayton Valley Ranch Home was the central heart of the 400+ acre George Cardinet Ranch, whose lands have since been developed as parts of Clayton Valley Highlands, Pine Hollow Estates, Seven Oaks, Live Oak and the Hayward S tate college campus.

First built in 1901, according to County Records, with added portion since. Recent roof, plumbing, foundation work, clear termite and fresh paint make this period home ideal for the right family wanting to update and expand it into their own estate on a secluded and level .58 of an acre.

For this and others, call

PETE LAURENCE Broker-Owner, Realtor, GRI

ONLY $729,000!

5301 Pine Hollow Road (Private Lane)

Historic ranch home, 4 bed plus den, 2 bath Victorian living room, den and formal dining with 10’ ceilings, 1,580 sq. ft.

Detached barn & stables, backs to horse trail connected to Mt. Diablo foothills.

Forested, fenced yard with new Trek-Deck.

1511 Treat Blvd. #100, Walnut Creek, CA 94598

Office (925) 939-7920 Fax (925) 939-1939 VM 24 hr (925) 940-2777

MT. DIABLO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

The four th and fifth g rade c horus presents “T he R eturn of the Glass Slipper” at 7 p .m. May 17 and 18. The musical will be in the multi-use room at the sc hool, 5880 Mt. Zion. Tickets are $5 and available at the door.

“The R eturn of the Glass Slipper” shares the magic and wonder of wishes come tr ue in a fair ytale fa vorite, when Cinderella meets her Prince Char ming.

Hayley Herrera will play Cinderella, and Maxwell Renner is the charming Prince.

Kiana Mason is the F airy Godmother .

Ashlynn Adams will pla y the Evil Mt. Diablo Elementary students are preparing for the spring musical.

Stepmother, with Lauren Ipsen and Front row, from left, Alaina Campbell, Jordan Deely, Hayley Herrera and Lauren Ipsen. Middle row, Ashlynn Adams. Back row, Max Renner, Jordan Deely as the Evil Ste psisters.

Jared Vance and Jason Newberry.

This will be the last musical directed

by Christine Billingsley, who has been the school’s music director for five years. Although she is moving this summer, she will fondly remember all the sho ws throughout the years.

CLAYTON VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Accept ing Mo the Day Re servatio rs ns

i v t e n d to Dinner! i e r ’ You

Featuring fabulous 4 course meals

iano p e v i L ! music

every Friday night like Citrus glazed salmon, Oven roasted tri tip steak, Chicken Oscar, & much more!

Wine & champagne cocktails!

Great appetizers & desserts!

The second annual Benefit for Technology, Fiesta De Mayo, will be held 6:30-11 p.m. May 4 at Centre Concord, 5298 Clayton Road.

The P arent-Faculty Club planning committee is re peating last year’s fiesta theme , with a Mexican dinner buffet, dessert and silent auctions, casino, margaritas, tequila tasting, dancing and more . DJ Terry Newber ry will emcee the festi vities. All proceeds benefit the high school’s Technology Fund.

Last year’s successful ev ent, plus a g enerous donation from the Clayton Business and Comm unity Association, brought in enough money to re place the sc hool librar y’s 10 aging computers with 20 new, flat screen beauties . New furniture required b y these upg rades was also purc hased, and the g oal of one networked, fully functioning computer in each classroom has been achieved.

But the work continues. The school of 2,000 children has ong oing technology needs, and this year’s benefit will targ et the computer lab’s aging systems , as w ell as k eeping pace with a re placement schedule for computers throughout the sc hool. The PFC w elcomes any monetary support or items to auction for this ev ent. Tickets are $45 eac h, or tw o for $85. For infor mation or tic kets, call Mindy Moore at 672-0930.

DIABLO VIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL

Open daily for lunch and afternoon tea

Englund's Tea Cottage 5433 L Clayton Road

www.EnglundsTeaCottage.com For Reservations, call 672-TEAS (8327)

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The Diablo View J azz and Symphonic Bands perfor med on the Plaza Gardens Stag e in Disneyland on Mar 17. For the fifth time since 2000, the bands w ere selected through the Disney Magic Music Da ys prog ram.

Participating bands are selected from video tapes sent early in the sc hool year .

The Symphonic Band perfor med selections from the James Bond and The Lion King movies, a v ariation on the Drunken Sailor sea c hantey and a selection which included sev eral vintage TV themes . The J azz Band perfor med tunes such as On Broadway, Yardbird Suite and Birdland.

All the students participated in a recording session where the band supplied the m usic for some short animated clips.

***

1

surrounded by stunning Mount Diablo Hillside and Canyon views. Privacy with the conPRICE REDUCTION veniences and comforts we $1,399,500 all enjoy. This spacious 5 Bedroom, 3 Bath Craftsman home is perfect for enter13960 Marsh Creek Road, taining guests.

Extensive redClayton wood decks and patio areas surround a swimming pool that includes a waterfall backdrop as part of the gorgeous terraced landscaping. There’s also a Guest House built above a large garage with a bedroom, bath and its broker own kitchen. This definitely has the potential of becoming an office with its own workshop. 1.6 acre Keller Williams Realty property includes areas for (510) 333-4460 (Cell) potential additions, possibly to (510) 528-4500 (Office) include horses or RV parking.

Open House

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For more information, visit:

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Mike Kavanaugh

Dusting off their sombreros for a second Fiesta de Mayo are CVHS parents: Back row: Teresa Merenkov, Donna Tong, Mary Siver, Mindy Moore; Center: Anne Young, Pamela Newacheck; Front: Carolyn Hartnell, Kim Drobatz, Nancy Llacuna

Camila Rowland and Chris Lopez play the two leads in DramaMama’s Production of High School Musical opening May 4 at DVMS.

69 DVMS music students performed at Disneyland on March 17. 16 adult chaperones accompanied the students on the trip.

DramaMama Productions presents High Sc hool Musical at Diablo View Middle Sc hool May 4 and 5, 11 and 12 at 7 p .m. with matinees on May 5 and May 12 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults, children 12 and under $8, DVMS students and cast members, $8. A cast of 60 students will fill the stag e in an energ etic v ersion of Disney Channel’s made-for-TV film released more than a year ag o.

Directed b y P atti Pratt through her after -school enric hment program at Diablo View, the play has everything from jocks, brainiacs, cliques and popular kids who vie for a spot in the limelight.

For more infor mation or to order tic kets online visit www . dramamamaproductions.com.

VFW SCHOLARSHIP

Clayton Valley’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1525 will award a $600 scholarship to a high sc hool graduate or a member of a high school graduation class who meets eligibility requirements.

Each applicant must show that he or she is a natural or adopted son, daughter, grandson or g randdaughter of a current or deceased member of Post 1525.

Applications are due by May 1. For more information, call Thomas Baublitz at 672-2372 or Nelson Baker at 672-7188.

Send your school news items to schoolnews@claytonpioneer.com

PENDING

Coming Soon

“Your Neighbor for over 20 years”

9 Barcelona Way, Clayton

925-383-6102 mkavanaugh@ remaxaccord.com

This gorgeous remodeled home is tucked away on a quiet court in one of Clayton’ s most prestigious neighborhoods. From the p ark-like backyard with gazebo and redwood decks to the gourmet kitchen with slab granite counters, this home is designed for entert aining. The home is highlighted with new hardwood flooring, dual p ane windows, custom oak shelving and crown molding throughout.

With 2,324 square feet there is plenty of room for everyone.

The yard is large enough to add a pool and still have plenty of area for outdoor entertaining. The perfect family home.

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4218 St. Paul Circle

Fantastic 4 bedroom 2.5 bath home in the Highlands. This home features an updated kitchen with granite counters and newer appliances, large family room with wood burning fireplace and formal living room with vaulted ceilings.

There is also a separate office with built-in wet bar. All bathrooms have been updated and there are 6” baseboards and crown molding throughout. A custom front door with dual sidelights and newer dual pane windows complete the home.

Don’t miss the fant astic back yard sport court area, built-in BBQ, RV/Boat parking and still room for a pool.

Offered at $629,950

1,080 acres adjacent to State Park

Nestled at the end of a quiet canyon off Morgan Territory Road sits this fantastic country estate situated on 3 parcels totaling 1080 acres. The upper 560 acre parcel is adjacent to Mt. Diablo S tate Park and of fers a variety of out door activities. The lower p arcels, tot aling 520 acres, are in a gentle canyon and feature a 3,000+ square foot custom home built beside a seasonal creek. There is plenty of acreage for vineyards, orchards and grazing land.

Most of the lower 520 acres is also surrounded by Mt. Diablo State Park. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to own a piece of Mount Diablo.

Call for Price

Page A10

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

April 27, 2007

At the Movies

‘Blades’ works as comedy on ice

Will Ferrell stars in “Blades of Glory.”

“Dodgeball” told of a sport the a verage J oe could nail to sa ve a g ym in need.

“Benchwarmers” got their time on the field. The world finally lear ned that a soccer dad could be just as scar y, I mean funny, as a soccer mom.

With the obscure side of sports hitting the big screen lately, ice skating did not stand a chance. Thus, “Blades of Glory” was born.

Jimmy MacElro y, played

by J on Heder , is the honest skater – an or phaned wonder

with a g enuine lo ve of ice skating that’ s evident in his elegant tec hnique, complete with peacoc k outfit and feathery tail. Will F errell, as Chazz Mic hael Mic haels, is the exact opposite – a former drug addict who has ear ned the title “sex on ice” for his raunchy improvisations.

They are the ying and yang of the ice, the sensitive Heder vs. the brash F errell. It is expected that when they tie for first in a competition, a fight breaks out.

Yet the

unusual is clearly this mo vie’s goal, which could only be achieved b y ha ving the enemies skate together.

When their fighting leads to a ban from skating, a loophole brings the skaters bac k to the competition years later.

Doubles skating is not outof-bounds, nor is any ax el, glide or thro w for tw o men willing to w ear tight and colorful outfits for laughs.

Their competition, Stranz and F airchild V an Waldenberg (real-life couple Will Ar nett and Am y Poehler), are villainous brother and sister with a c hemistry close to incest. The character closest to nor mal is the Waldenberg’s y ounger sister , Katie (J enna Fisc her), and MacElroy dev elops a cr ush on her.

With all the adv ances in special effects , Heder and Ferrell glide seamlessly throughout their performances. And these tw o inexperienced skaters pro vide plenty of crotch-holding. If there was to be one pur pose

NATALIE BUDESA

AT

THE

MOVIES

“Blades of Glory” was brought to the screen, it was to have a man support another man by the crotch in a perfectly executed ice skating lift.

Unfortunately, the jok e runs a little thin, as the sole comedy comes from the absurd dancing and positions that could only be deli vered by two skating males.

In the end, absurdity seems all a comedy needs .

Heder and Ferrell are capable of pulling off the 93 minutes.

Directors J osh Gordon and Will Speck must have known a skate chase could be just as adrenaline-packed as any car chase, especially if it’s Ferrell being pursued b y a glitzy ice skating rival.

Natalie Budesa is 15 y ears old and a sophomor e at CVHS . She aspires to a car eer as a cinemato grapher. Send y our comments to movies@claytonpioneer.com

With TV quality on the rise , the movies are a losing ar t JEANNA ROSS

AT THE MOVIES Movies are dying, and their death knell can be heard across hill and dale.

We’ve all seen the re ports.

Attendance is do wn. Bigbudget thrillers aren’t raking it in. Add to that the incon venience of the theater -going experience – the parking, food and ticket prices, patrons with verbal diar rhea, the lac kluster fare – and is it any wonder that multiplex o wners are sw eating?

How about the announcement that films would begin to be released on D VD, Pay-PerView and at the theater on the same day? I sw ear I heard the theater industry raise a mournful cr y while the rest of us scampered gleefully before our big screen televisions , surround sound systems , Netflix subscriptions and pizza deli very coupons.

As if that w eren’t enough, other insidious forces are undermining our highest profile industr y. What g rasps more enter tainment dollars from the American public than films? Video games, at $60 per game. Competing systems .

High profile producers, talented enter tainers and ar tists involved in the creation. But when one is collected around the television saving the world, they’re not w atching T om Cruise do it on the big screen.

And when that set isn ’t being utilized for the m ultiple game systems , a sur prise attack has come in the for m of one of the most sn ubbed industries in America: television. Actors have realized that a successful series includes a steady pa ycheck. Advertisers know that television reac hes an outrag eous n umber of people per day. Writers understand that c haracters could develop o ver years instead of just two hours. Directors utilize similar camera tec hniques

to create film effects.

Gone (or at least dwindled) are the one-set, laugh-track sitcoms of yesteryear, replaced b y the 24-hour film or reality show. As a result, I’ll take an e pisode of “24” or “Lost” over just about any film these days.

Don’t have time? Try Tivo, DVR or entire seasons on DVD. Even the reviled television movie has been reborn. Check out any of the recent offerings

by HBO Films for some of the most daring and thoughtprovoking stories of the decade. You remember those – we used to w atch them at the theater.

To add insult to injur y, the public has ev en f led the CGI car c hases for homeg rown entertainments.

In San Francisco, the Cur ran T heatre is hosting “J ersey Bo ys.”

Packed houses ev ery night, with 1,600 screaming fans watching a cast of 21 unknowns sing 41-year -old

songs. At $99 per ticket.

The show has extended its run until the end of September. The New Y ork production pla ys to 100 percent capacity ev ery night. A second tour begins in May. Ouch.

Of course, current cinematic offerings ha ve their audiences. They’ll mak e their money and depart in a puff of steam very few will remember with any clarity . However, my time w ould be m uch better served tr ying to disco ver the secrets of “Lost” or attending “Jersey Bo ys” for the third time.

Hand me m y remote control, because if I’m g oing to leave m y house , it’ll be for something w orthwhile and very little is capturing m y imagination at the moment.

Jeanna Ross is an Eng lish teacher at Clayton V alley High School and a fr ee lance writer . She regularly contributes to the Pioneer .

Send comments to her at movies@claytonpioneer.com.

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April 27, 2007

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

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Look to peptides to help reduce wrinkles DAVID GODSOE Special to the Pioneer

We are all g etting older. The mirror lets us know it every day, as do our c hildren. But with peptides, you can reduce or eliminate wrinkles and lines that are a part of aging.

Peptides are the basic components of proteins, which constitute the vast majority of hair, skin and nails . Peptides help boost collag en, firm and tone skin and reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

Recent disco veries in biochemistry sho w that pe ptides have the ability to transmit ag ereversing signals to collag enproducing cells . Because pe ptides have a small molecular size, they can link to a specific amino acid change. This makes it easier for them to penetrate the epidermis, or the top la yer of skin.

Peptides act as signals or messenger molecules to the underlying skin layer, the dermis.

One cause of wrinkles is repetitive creasing when w e show expressions, which causes

the collag en fibrils to break down. In clinical trials and university tests , specifically engineered pe ptide c hains (small fragments of proteins) ha ve been shown to stop and potentially reverse the deg radation or deterioration of dermal collagen. In shor t, there can be an amazing “erasing” effect in the appearance of light to dee p lines and wrinkles.

There are tw o commonly used peptides in skin care today.

One is Matrixyl, which is manufactured and sold by a company in France. Matrixyl is a fatty acid mixed with amino acids . It was discovered while searc hing for substances that speed up healing and what causes wrinkles .

Matrixyl stim ulates the healing process of the skin. This includes the production of collagen.

Another answ er is Boto x, which destro ys the neural messenger that tells the m uscle to contract or tense . This causes a paralysis of the m uscle.

However, Botox is expensive.

Scientists working at Lipotec in Spain disco vered Argireline ,

Club News

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Paul Mitchell’s new line of pet products, including shampoos, creme rinses on & body wipes. Tested humans first Donna Taber,

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Cruise Adventures Unlimited Serving all cruise lines since 1987 Claire Tryon received the 2005-’06 Knight of the Year award.

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KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS The Concord Council 6038 Knights of Columbus, serving the Clayton and Concord communities, honored Claire Tryon as Knight of the Year for 2005’06.

Tryon is the y outh director, PR chairman and c hurch activities c hairman for the council.

Tyron is acti ve in y outh activities locally , as w ell as at the regional and state lev els. He also was honored as Knight of the Month for F ebruary 2007 for his contribution to the Free Throw Competition, the Poster Competition and the Essa y Contest.

Pat De plazes, financial secretary for the Knights , was named Knight of the Year for

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Page A11

2006-’07. He w as honored for his w ork in reno vating the St. Bonaventure’s Churc h kitc hen, including re placing the sto ves and o vens and restoring the kitchen cabinets. Deplazes also received Knight of the Month for January 2007.

Geo Pohley III received the Knight of the Month award for December 2006, for his outstanding job as Santa for the annual Christmas party.

The Monthly Membership Meeting of the Knights of Columbus will be at 7:30 p .m.

May 1 in the parish hall at St. Agnes, 3966 Chestn ut A ve., Concord. Voting for the candidates for all officers’ positions for 2007-’08 will take place.

CLAYTON BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION CBCA will host the 21st Annual Cla yton Classic Golf tournament at the Oakhurst Country Club on Mon., June 4.

another pe ptide that mimics Botox. They think that it inhibits the messeng er rather than destro ying it. The adv antage is that there is no paralysis; the muscle is just relaxed.

When looking for an antiaging product, see if Matrixyl and Argireline are on the list of ingredients. These two peptides support each other in plumping, smoothing and rev ersing the

Rally,

signs of aging. There are other peptides, but these two seem to be the best.

When used in conjunction with a g ood skin-care regimen, peptides are g ood for y ou and can help reduce the signs of aging.

Godsoe is the owner of Clayton Mind & Body Connection, 1007 Oak St. F or mor e infor mation, call 673-0686.

from page A1

downtown or along our main roads, trails and open spaces.

As a result, the public landscaping in our “front yard” will wither and die and our property values will decline. We must not let this happen.

The “Y es for Cla yton Landscape Maintenance” committee endorses Measure B , which establishes a new district, completely re placing the expiring district. It will be put before the v oters in a special election on June 5.

All Cla yton residents are encouraged to attend the rally ,

and the committee also w elcomes any help in distributing fliers door-to-door on the weekend of April 28 and 29.

Residents are also encourag ed to place “Y es for Measure B” signs in their yards or storefront windows.

Lydia Lane Park is at the end of Lydia Lane off Clayton Road.

To v olunteer or for more information, email YesForMeasureB@comcast.net.

Vineyard is the tr easurer of the “Yes for Clayton Landscape Maintenance” committee.

Find a foursome and come out for a g ood time. Call CBCA at 672-2272. Cost includes golf (a scramble) and dinner. *** May Meeting of the Clayton Business and Comm unity Association (CBCA) will be on Thursday, May 24 at the Oakhurst Country club starting at 6:30 pm.

Dinner Reservations are needed. The cost of the dinner is $22 and reservations m ust be made b y noon, May 22. Call the CBCA Office at 672-2272 to mak e your reser vation. Come find out what is happening in Clayton.

donations too the community.

Tickets are $30 and include lunch catered b y Ric k’s on Second. For reser vations, call Doris Maguire at 672-1696.

The Cla yton V alley Woman’s Club is a non-profit service org anization and a member of the General Federation of Woman’s Clubs .

Meeting are held at 9:30 a.m. the second and four th Tuesday of the month at Holy Cross Lutheran Churc h. All are w elcome.

VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS The VFW District 25 will hold a Lo yalty Da y Ceremony on April 29 at the V eterans Memorial Hall, 2290 Willo w Pass R oad, Concord. Lt. Jerry Novakovich of VFW P ost 1525, Clayton Valley, will host the proceedings.

On Loyalty Day, club members reaffirm their allegiance to our countr y and resolv e to uphold the vision of our forefathers. The Lo yalty Da y program star t at 1 p .m., preceded by the post’ s breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon.

For more infor mation, call Commander Pete at 255-3449.

CLAYTON VALLEY WOMAN’S CLUB The club will present a Festival of Tables and F ashion at 11 a.m. May 19 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1092 Alberta Way, Concord.

Club members and guests will model fashions b y Chico’s.

There will also be tic kets for various prizes . All proceeds benefit the Cla yton V alley Woman’s Club scholarships and

MOUNT DIABLO ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY The g roup will mark 50 years promoting amateur stargazing with a 50th anni versary celebration on J une 9 on Mt. Diablo.

MDAS members, trained as docents, work with Mt. Diablo State Park officials to host star parties each month from March through October . The J une 9 party begins at 7 p .m. at the lower summit parking lot.

It will include cake, beverages and some sur prises to share with members of the public who attend.

MDAS was founded in 1957 by a g roup of amateur astronomers who par ticipated in the Smithsonian Astrophysical Obser vatory’s Moonwatch prog ram, which enlisted amateur astronomers to obser ve and trac k ar tificial satellites. MDAS has g rown into a g roup of several hundred members who w ork to bring astronom y to the public through a v ariety of venues in Contra Costa County.

For more infor mation, call MDAS president Nic k Tsakoyias at 825-6523 or email claytonjandl@aol.com.

Q plea uestion se c s on or co (92 tact R mmen 5) 3 a 81- ndi An ts, 065 dru s 9

Explore Clayton’s newest INTERACTIVE website. View the community calendar, post free classified ads and sign up for the free monthly e-newsletter.

at w w w . c l a y t o n 4 U . c o m

Page A12

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

High-tech Aero Glass interface is w ay cool, but be sure to g et the facts

WILL CLANEY TECH TALK The latest Windo ws operating system released b y Microsoft is kno wn for its smooth, Aero Glass interface .

This latest interface is a wesome and far outdistances the look and feel of the predecessor , Windows XP. Vista’s Aero Glass is featurerich, with lots of “blinkielights,” “buzzy-whirrie” sounds and f lashing icons . Something like this has been around for a while in the Mac W orld, but now Aero Glass is taking o ver your desktop.

It’s a m ust-have for ev ery computer user , so don ’t be afraid to tak e the plung e. But before y ou do , there are a few caveats.

Wikipedia defines Aero as “an acronym (or backronym) for authentic, energetic, reflective and open. Intended to be a cleaner, more po werful, more efficient and (a) more aesthetically pleasing user interface , it includes new transparencies , live thumbnails, live icons , animations and (lots of) eye candy.”

THE NEW MICROSOFT AERO-GLASS INTERFACE is loaded with all the “bells and whistles” but requires more graphics memory.

Well, there y ou ha ve it. It’s beyond cool.

If you ha ven’t had the opportunity to view Windo ws Vista, you really should. The interface is intuiti ve, and users of XP will ha ve little problem navigating and using this Operating System (O/S) right out of the box.

Whether you upgrade or buy new, the same r ules or requirements will apply. Older computers g enerally do not meet these new, more string ent require-

ments, so I recommend buying new.

Vista with Aero Glass installed and r unning cor rectly requires a g reat deal more graphics memor y (aka video RAM) to display the cool graphics cor rectly. Graphics memor y is different and se parate from the RAM on your system board.

Windows Vista requires more of both video RAM and main system RAM than XP did.

In addition, the g raphics chip m ust be of an adv anced

stage. nVidia has a line of graphics cards that comply with the rig ors of Microsoft’s requirements. Any card mark ed as an nVidia model GeF orce 6000 or higher will w ork. A model n umber less that 6000, for example GeF orce 5500FX, will not let y ou enjo y Aero Glass. It will, however, run Vista.

Aero Glass requires more of a g raphics solution because there are millions of additional pixels (those tiny colored dots on y our computer screen) required for the cool displa y.

Simply put: Dazzling g raphics requires a faster g raphics processor (GPU) and more graphics memory.

Vista can, and will, run faster on a new computer when compared with Windo ws XP .

However, Vista may have some significant issues if you tr y installing it on an existing computer. Your older computer may not ha ve enough processor (CPU), main memory (RAM) or a “qualified” video (g raphics) card.

Also be aware when you purchase a new computer , because most man ufacturers are not meeting or ex ceeding the requirements. Instead of selling a solution, like I do , they sell price and stic k y ou with an unsolved problem.

The nVidia video accelerator with 512MB of onboard RAM, known as GRAM, is y our best bet to run Vista Aero Glass.

See Tech Talk, page A15

SUNNY SOLOMON

FOR

THE

BOOKS

SHE GOT UP OFF THE COUCH

BY HAVEN KIMMEL Okay, I admit it - I bought this book because I could not resist the co ver picture of a very y oung Ha ven Kimmel.

The photog raph on the no w

to resist as her co ver photo .

She loves her family and grows to see them as they tr uly are .

She is the y oungest (b y ten years) of three c hildren.

Photographs of family and friends grace the first pages of each c hapter. She uses ev erything to reel us in. In the end, we are most sw ayed b y her words describing her belo veds with all the fierce sweetness of youth. An example is when she writes of her m uch older brother: He was the great physical thing in the w orld, a w onder lik e Niagara F alls if Niagara F alls was your brother.

Kimmel’s book is a memoir of remarkable originality and charm; it’s well worth the read.

Let our advertisers know you saw them in the Pioneer.

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Look for our convenient ATM at the Clayton Art & W ine Festival!

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Funny and touching, Kimmel’s tale of family is a great read available trade paper copy of her book ma y be smaller , but it’s just as cute . Never ha ving read Kimmel’s earlier book, A Girl Named Zippy , I was totally unprepared for the outrageously funny and piercingly tender moments of immense reading pleasure.

The “she” who got off the couch w as Kimmel’ s mother , all tw o hundred-plus pounds of her. Kimmel’s family is the square peg within the round holes of Moorland, Indiana, a close-knit, extremely nor mal community of 300 (w ell, as normal as a community of 300 people can be). It is Kimmel’s mother who rounds off some of her family’s edges.

Kimmel’s prose is as hard

April 27, 2007

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Sunny Solomon is the BookLady and manager of Clayton Books in the Clayton Station. She holds an MA in Eng lish and Cr eative Writing fr om San F rancisco State University. Sunny is a poet and loves to “talk books .” Reach her with questions or comments at 673-3325.

April 27, 2007

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page A13

Clayton Valley Presbyterian Church 925-672-4848 1578 Kirker Pass Road Mission Statement to

follow the risen Christ by studying His Word to live God's love through service to others to nurture our church family to accept all who enter our doors to tell others about God’s grace

10 am Sunday School & Bible Class, 11:15 am Worship

Patricia Stout, Pastor

Sundays 10:30 a.m.

Bible-based & Christ-centered worship, education & fellowship

5554 Clayton Rd., Concord (in the Farm Bureau building)

www.cvpresby.org

(925) 524-0295 William Kant, Pastor

www.EternalLifeLutheranChurch.org Member of WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod)

Church News CONCORD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH The c hurch is hosting its 32nd annual Bike-A-Thon this weekend, April 28 and 29. The trip begins at 9 a.m. Saturday at the c hurch, 1645 W est St. in Concord, and retur ns at 4:30 p.m. Sunday. The cost is $25.

Additional sponsors are needed.

All funds g o to Heifer International, which w orks with comm unities to end hunger b y helping pro vide a food source . For more information, call 685-5260.

CHURCH WOMEN UNITED OF CONTRA COSTA The group invites Christian women of all denominations to celebrate their friendships at May Friendship Day on May 4 at Grace Presb yterian Church, 2100 Tice Valley Road, Walnut Creek.

The ev en begins at 11:00 a.m. and includes a potluc k salad lunc h, presentation of the Valiant Woman Award and observance of the 51st anniversary of the F ellowship of the Least Coin offering.

Parishioners of Concord United Methodist Church are gearing up for this weekend’s Bike-A-Thon.

Guest speak er Linda Blagburn from the San Francisco Presb ytery will address the theme , “Friends Under God’s Wing.” Blagburn helps cong regations dev elop strategies for fighting hunger.

For more information, con-

tact Diana Barkley at 947-5999.

Child-care m ust be reser ved before April 30.

ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH On Marc h 20, St. John’s hosted a Pra yer Vigil marking

925-672-4238

ST. BONAVENTURE’S CATHOLIC CHURCH The Men ’s Spiritual Network is sponsoring a Men’s Retreat at San Damiano Retreat Center on Ma y 18-21.

Father Tom Bonacci, parochial vicar of St. Ignatius parish in Antioch, will lead the retreat.

He is a nationally kno wn retreat master and scripture scholar.

Men or any faith are in vited. For more information, visit www.stbonaventure.net/msnre treat.shtml or call Matt Remington at 672-4006 or Peter Nixon at 363-5884.

What’s happening in y our place of worship? New pastor or c hoir director? Special projects? Active ministries?

Send y our news of community interest to

Clayton, 5439 B/C Clayton Road Clayton Station/Safeway Shopping Center

the four th anni versary of the Iraq war. Clergy and members of St. Bonaventure’s Catholic Church joined them for a candlelight pra yer on Cla yton Road.

Members of St. John’s and St. Bonaventure’s held a prayer vigil on Clayton Road on the fourth anniversary of the war in Iraq.

churchnews@claytonpioneer.com

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Page A14

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

April 27, 2007

Clayton Sports Eagles takes 6th in prestigious Livermore Stampede DEANNA MERRIGAN Clayton Pioneer

The Cla yton V alley High School w omen’s softball team was thrilled to be invited to participate in the Li vermore Stampede on April 14.

The tournament featured 16 top teams from Nor thern California, including four from the Ba y Valley Athletic League (BVAL) – Cla yton V alley, Freedom, Carondelet and Deer Valley. The Eagles finished the tournament in sixth place.

“It w as a hug e pri vilege to play in the tournament, because only the best g o,” commented team member K elsey Chambers.

All season, the team worked toward the g oal of being asked to play in the tournament. Being invited “brought a lot of confidence to the team, ” Chambers added. “Our team has been aiming for the Stampede for quite a while, so it was definitely an exciting moment.”

Senior pitc her Cour tney Alvarez was proud of her team’s involvement. “It w as our first time being there,” she noted.

The Eagles had some tough competition in the tour nament from teams in the East Ba y Athletic League (EBAL) and the Hayward Area Athletic League (HAAL).

In regular BVAL league play, the Eagles are cur rently in a tie for first place with Heritag e.

Clayton Valley is enjoying a winning season, with a record of 71-0 in league and 11-4-0 overall.

For coach Jen Arnold, one of the highlights of the season was beating F reedom High Sc hool for the first time. “Last year, they were 25-0,” she explained.

The Eagles are looking to advance into the Nor th Coast Section (NCS). With upcoming games ag ainst Carondelet, Antioch and then Heritag e again, the w omen will ha ve to continue to w ork hard to sta y on top of the league.

Chambers is confident that her team will do w ell in the

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

WITH SEVERAL SHUTOUTS this season, Courtney Alvarez shines on the pitcher’s mound.

NCS. “I feel that we will stay on top this season. In the past, we have made it to NCS , but w e were nev er in first place when we did it, ” she said. “So, that tells me w e can adv ance a lot further than w e ha ve done in the past years.”

According to Ar nold, the team’s success this season is largely due to “tremendous teamwork.” The coach is enjoying her second year of coaching and teac hing PE at Cla yton Valley. As a student athlete , she

Rocco’s host to Chad Gaudin, pitcher for the Oakland A’s DEANNA MERRIGAN Clayton Pioneer

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

CLAYTON VALLEY SOFTBALL TEAM is leading the BVAL; Kelsey Chambers is a leading hitter on the team.

Sports Shorts BOCCE The Cla yton Di vision of the Concord Bocce League pla ys on Sundays at Newhall Park in Concord. The season starts May 20 and ends Se pt. 30 (no games Memorial or Labor Da y weekends).

We are starting a division at 3. We have a full complement of 16 teams playing at 6. Teams are a minimum of six players and a maxim um of ten. No prior experience needed and it only takes a few minutes to learn the basics.

Team fees are $250. If you don’t have a team but are interested, we’ll take your name and put y ou on a team. Bocce is a great social sport and perfect for couples. For questions call Ed Hartley at (925) 698-4191 or send an e-mail with y ou full contact information to claytonbocce@yahoo.com.

Clayton resident, Mike Rose, has been in business for over 34 years and has always provided quality repair with excellent customer service!

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played ball at F reedom High and then contin ued pla ying at St. Mary’s College.

Alvarez, the only senior on the team, has been playing softball since age 8. The pitcher has been successful at Cla yton Valley, with sev eral shutouts to her credit. Alvarez also plays for the San Ramon Stompers and is on the CVHS water polo team.

Early on, she decided she wanted to be a pitc her . “It’s exciting. The pitcher is always in the game,” she explained.

The senior is looking forward to pla ying softball throughout colleg e, as she’ s been offered a sc holarship at Chattanooga State.

Chambers and her twin sister, Lindsey, have been pla ying softball since they w ere 5 years old. Lindsey pla ys shor tstop, while K elsey guards second base. Both plan to contin ue playing after high sc hool and have committed to the University of Oregon.

Kelsey enjo ys softball because “it’ s fun and it k eeps me in shape . Of course,” she noted, “in order to mak e it fun, there’s a lot of practice and hard work involved.”

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Rocco’s Ristorante Pizzeria in Walnut Creek w as packed on April 18, as Oakland A ’s baseball fans lined up clutching ticket stubs , baseballs and jerseys , hoping to catc h a glimpse and autograph of A’s pitc her Chad Gaudin.

The previous night, Gaudin had a stellar night as star ting pitcher against the Angels.

The restaurant, known for its casual atmosphere with

sports theme throughout, was a great place for fans and families to g et up close and personal with a professional player.

Many fans w ent to R occo’s after an announcement on the scoreboard at the Tuesday night game that Gaudin w ould be there to sign autog raphs.

One w oman w as ex cited to add the autog raphed items to her son’s collection of A’s memorabilia. Unfortunately, she forgot to order her pizza before

See Gaudin, page A15

TEE BALL LEAGUE @ C LAYTON COMMUNITY GYM. MAY 12 - J ULY 7, SATURDAYS. Introduce y our c hild to America’ s fa vorite pastime and join them on the field while they lear n the basics of baseball. This league is for c hildren in presc hool through first g rade. Divisions are se parated b y g rade. All g ames and practices are held at the Clayton Community Gym. For more information or to register call 925.889.1600 or email lrookstool@mdr ymca.org.

DANA HILLS SWIM TEAM Dana Hills Swim Team still has openings in all age groups. Visit our website at www.danahillsotters.com for details.

MDSL (M OUNT DIABLO SOCCER LEAGUE) Tryouts: U15 – U19 Class 1 and Class 3 for boys and girls, Sun., Apr. 22, Tue., Apr. 24 (boys), Thur., Apr. 26 (girls) and Sun., Apr. 29. Check the MDSL website for times and locations or additional information. www.mdslsoccer.org

Deanna Merrigan/Clayton Pioneer

After waiting in line, a patient fan is rewarded with a “hat signing.”

Thunder Glow Bowli l a t i ng 5 BIG DVD SCREENS Dig Namely, what do y ou w ant t o do in the y ears ahead? Ma ybe join the P eace Corps? Mak e y our own mo vie? Star t a ne w business, perhaps? Or maybe you’re not even sure.

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So call me at (925) 685-4523 today or stop by our office for a complimentary copy of the Dream Book .

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April 27, 2007

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

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Page A15

Drinks were on the house at Oakhurst Countr y Club on April 10, as Cla yton resident Denise Ste phens hit a hole-inone, or ace as it’ s sometimes called, during a round of golf.

Using her Call away B ig Bertha 10 iron and with pin placement in the middle of the green on hole No. 3, Denise hit the ball, then w atched as it landed and rolled about four to five feet right into the cup.

She w as ex cited and didn ’t hesitate to let her enthusiasm show. “I jumped up and do wn and screamed, ” she sa ys.

“Apparently, the foursome behind us heard m y scream too, because after the 18th hole, they were looking for me to see if I got a hole-in-one as they wanted to claim their free drink (which they got).”

It star ted out ordinar y enough as she w as out for a nice day of golf with her husband, Vaughn, and tw o kids during spring break. After the initial ex citement died do wn, Denise ended up scoring a 97

for the round.

She’s been an a vid g olfer since her teens. “I started playing when I w as 14 with m y dad,” she says. “When I was 16, he took me to Pebble Beach for the first time when g reen fees were only $60. They are up to $400 now.”

The tradition contin ued with Denise’ s brothers , and when her dad w as 61 (rev erse of 16), Denise sur prised him with a round at Pebble Beach.

The 18-hole Oakhurst Country Club features 6,739 yards of golf from the long est tees for a par of 72. The course, designed b y R on Fream, opened in 1990. During spring, you’ll find Denise and her family there at least once a week.

For those luc ky few who manage a hole-in-one , accolades at the club bar are usually forthcoming. According to Denise, it is traditional for the person who g ets an ace to buy drinks for ev eryone in the bar .

Luckily, she had hole-in-one insurance and didn ’t ha ve to pay for any of it.

Gaudin, from page A14 getting in the autog raph line .

For tr ue fans , some things are more important than eating.

Rocco’s supports young athletes and teams in Cla yton, Walnut Creek and sur rounding communities. The restaurant

often sponsors a team or organization and also sponsors the “Athlete Spotlight” in the Clayton Pioneer . Many teams hold their end of season parties at Rocco’s.

Clayton Fitness & Tanning

wo

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It’s working and it’s affordable.”

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Circuit Training Tanning Personal Training State of the art equipment

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Gail with owner, Frank Lagau

Hours: Mon. - Fri. 5am - 10pm Sat. 7am - 5pm Sun. 8am - 5pm

Frank Lagau, owner, C.P.T. Mike Quinata, C.P.T.

15th annual USPS Letter Car riers’ Food Drive set for Sat., May 12 Saturday, May 12, is one day the Cla yton P ost Office letter carriers look forward to being a busy day. This is the date for the 15th ann ual Letter Car riers Food Drive.

On this da y, residents are asked to leave a bag of non-perishable foods (no glass , please)

Tech Talk,

e t m u r o o f rks

DENISE STEPHENS ACED THE THIRD hole at Oakhurst on Apr. 10.

Deanna Merrigan/Clayton Pioneer

A’s pitcher, Chad Gaudin stopped at Rocco’s to sign autographs after a stellar pitching performance against the Angels the night before.

Rocco Biale is on the right.

like canned g oods, pastas and boxed noodle dishes next to their mailbo x and the car riers will pic k it up . All food donations will g o to the F ood Bank of Contra Costa County.

The National Letter Carriers one da y ev ent is the nation ’s largest food drive.

from page A12

Forget anything y ou ma y have heard, seen or read about the minim um system requirements. The minim um will r un Windows Vista, but it will not r un Aero Glass . They are not the same.

Think of Aero Glass as a game prog ram that requires intense g raphic rendering, and it’s running on Windo ws Vista.

Without the cor rect g raphics card, RAM and CPU , Aero Glass just won’t work.

The Vista O/S will house the prog ram, but won’t launc h it. You w ant the maxim um requirements to boot this puppy.

Here’s what you want: Core 2 Duo CPU or at least a Dual Core CPU (different but simi-

lar). One to 2 gig abytes of DDR2 533 or faster RAM main memory r unning in dual c hannel mode or 2x 512MB. (That’s a pair of 512M, or a pair of 1GB, or more RAM.) Don ’t forget the DDR2 par t of this formula, as some larg e man ufacturers do, and, of course, a pulsating nVidia GeF orce graphics card.

Vista has a rating system from 1-5 that rates the ability to run Aero Glass. A minimum of 3 in the rating is required.

The rest of the computer is important, but not as important as the items listed here for Vista Aero Glass to really work.

Will Claney is the owner and operator of Computers USA! in the Clayton Station.

Contact him at 925-672-9989.

PM Every Satur 0 3 : 8 day Nig Live Music ht Banquet Rooms

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Page A16

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

April 27, 2007

Clayton Community Calendar PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR CLAYTON COMMUNITY CALENDAR EVENTS BY 5 P.M., MAY 2 FOR THE MAY 11 ISSUE. FAX TO 672-6580 OR E-MAIL calendar@claytonpioneer.com EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT THROUGH MAY 3 Picture Book Time @ Clayton Community Library 11 a.m. Thursdays. Story time for 3 - 5 yr olds. Child may attend without caregiver. No registration necessary. 673-0659. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road, Clayton.

APR. 27, 28, MAY 4, 5 SUDS @ CTA Crossroads Theatre A high speed romp through the sensational sixties with more than 50 wellknown, chart topping songs. An evening of squeaky-clean fun sure to wash away the blues. Tickets are $24 - $29. Call box office for tickets, 944-0597.

CTA Crossroads Theatre, 1277 Boulevard Way, Walnut Creek.

THROUGH MAY 8 Patty Cakes Story Time @ Clayton Community Library 11 a.m. Tuesdays. Story time for babies - 3 yr olds. No registration necessary. Child attends with caregiver. 673-0659. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road, Clayton.

APR. 13 - MAY 6 Seussical Seussical was adapted from the works of Theodor Seuss Geisel and includes characters and elements from at least 15 of his most famous books. The incredibly talented cast will carry all on an amazing journey. Ticket Prices are regular: $26, senior: $24, youth and child: $18and $16. For Tickets and show times call 943-SHOW (7469) or visit www.ccchristiantheatre.org. Del Valle Theatre, 1963 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek.

APRIL 27 - MAY 20 Moliere's The Imaginary Invalid @ Diablo Valley College Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Moliere's classic satire about an eccentric, wealthy man crippled by severe hypochondria.

Tickets are $10-$13, box office (925) 687-4445. DVC Performing Arts Center, 321 Golf Club Road, Pleasant Hill.

APR. 28 Clayton Cleans Up @ City Hall 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Make it a family day to help clean up Clayton. A barbeque sponsored by the Clayton Pioneer will follow. Everyone is asked to meet at City Hall to pick up bags and gloves. Call the city at 673-7300 for more information.

APR. 28, 29 Plant and Garden Items Sale on Main St. Next to Clayton Museum 10:00 - 4:00 Clayton Valley Garden Club plant sale. For Information call Jeff at 672-7579.

Apr. 28, 29 Clayton Community Library Spring Used Book Sale Sat. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sun. 12 - 4 p.m. This is your opportunity to stock up on recent releases and old favorites. $3 a bag special from 2-4 p.m.

Sun. Most books sell for $1, Sun. most books cost 50¢. Member's only preview Fri. Apr. 27 from 4 to 7 p.m. Memberships can be purchased at the door. Sponsored by the Clayton Community Library Foundation (CCLF) Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Rd. APRIL 28, 29 Clayton Gardens Tour 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. rain or shine. Self guided tour of 5 beautiful gardens in the Clayton Valley. Tour is $20 and benefits the Clayton Historical Society Museum. Reservations available at R &M Pool, Patio and Gardens, or call 672-0240 or 672-2117.

APR. 28 AND MAY 5 Clayton Valley Pumpkin Farm Spring Open House 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Celebrate Spring at the farm! Have fun and learn about worms and compost bugs, plants, and a train ride on the Pumpkin Farm Express. There will be duck races, a working greenhouse, children's crafts with KidzArt, baby animals from 4-H and a spring scavenger hunt. Plant a sunflower seed to take home! For ages preschool - nine years old. $6.50 per child, $5.50 per adult. Phone Number (925) 672-5198, Website: www.cvpumpkinfarm.com. 1060 Pine Lane, Clayton.

APRIL 28, MAY 12 Scrabble Club @ Carl's Jr. 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Come down and play a game of Scrabble. All ages and skill levels. Prizes and contests.$2.00 to play. Club meets the second and fourth Sat. of the month. Carl's Jr., 1530 Kirker Pass Road, Clayton.

Apr. 28 Clayton 150 Year Anniversary Guided Downtown Walking Tour 10 - 11:30 a.m. In honor of Clayton's sesquicentennial the Clayton Historical Society is hosting a monthly walking tour of downtown Clayton.

See where the stagecoach stopped and where the jail stood. Meet in front of the museum at 6101 Main St. the 4th Sat. of the month from Mar. - Sept. rain or shine. Wear comfortable shoes; the tour is approximately 3/4 mile.

For more information, call the Clayton Museum at 925-672-0240.

APRIL 29 Veterans of Foreign Wars Breakfast @ Concord Veterans Memorial Hall 8 - 11 a.m. VFW Post 1525 is hosting a breakfast at the Concord Veterans Memorial Hall. Breakfast includes eggs made to order, pancakes, sausage, coffee, and orange juice. The donation is $4.00 for adults and $2.00 for children 12 and younger. Pete Loechner (925) 682-6533. Concord Veterans Memorial Hall, 2290 Willow Pass Road, Concord.

Having trouble with your “get in shape” goal?

Let’s design a program just for you!

Exercise and nutrition evaluation

and recommendations Your progress monitored with exclusive HRV technology!

Jeanne Barta 5011 Clayton Road 925-682-4941

MAY 1, 8 The Art of Retirement Classes @ Loma Vista Adult Center 7 - 9 p.m. The course is five weeks in length and costs just $18 for people 55-plus. Topics include volunteering and travel, senior power and avoiding future shock. Call (925) 937-1530 for registration information. For more information on the class, please call instructor George Fulmore at (925) 686-6916. Loma Vista Adult Center, located at 1266 San Carlos Ave., Concord.

MAY 2 Mini Michelangelos @ Endeavor Hall 1 - 2 p.m. This YMCA program is for children ages three through five. Join your child and venture into the world of art. Each week will feature a different art project from finger painting to sculpture. For more information or to register call 925.889.1600 or email lrookstool@mdrymca.org.

May 4 Fiesta de Mayo Benefit for Technology for Clayton Valley High School @ Centre Concord 6:30 - 11:00 p.m. Proceeds benefit Clayton Valley High School Technology Fund. Dinner, auctions, dancing, margaritas, more. Tickets are $45 each, 2 for $85. For details and tickets call Melinda Moore at 672-0930. Centre Concord, 5298 Clayton Road, Concord.

MAY 4, 5, 11, 12 DramaMama Production of High School Musical @ Diablo View Middle School 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Saturday matinee.

East High School's basketball star Troy and serious, shy student Gabriella decide to audition for the school play. When word gets out that the two pose a threat to the shoe-ins for the leads, the rivalry turns the school upside down. Tickets are $12 for adults, $ 8 for kids 12 & under/DVMS students. Tickets available online at dramamamaproductions.com.

MAY 5, 6 Art & Wine Festival, Downtown Clayton Sat. from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Sun. from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

The Clayton Business and Community Association (CBCA) presents the 12th annual Art & Wine Festival. Enjoy arts and crafts, sample premium wines and beers, satisfy your hunger at the food court and listen to continuous live music. Call CBCA for more information 672-2272.

MAY 6 Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour of Contra Costa Gardens 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Free passes to 60 gardens and native plant nurseries along with garden guide providing details on each garden, and garden talks scheduled throughout the day. To register for the tour contact Kathy@kathykramerconsulting.net or call 510-236-9558 between 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.

MAY 10 Mrs. L's Mother's Day Craft @ Clayton Community Library 11 a.m. Make a precious Mother's Day gift that Mom will treasure forever.

For children ages 3 - 6. To register for this program please call Clayton Community Library at 673-0659. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road, Clayton.

MAY 11, 12 Alice in Wonderland @ The Lesher Center for the Arts May 11 (9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 7 p.m.) and May 12 (2 p.m., 7 p.m.)

Follow Alice down the rabbit hole in Civic Arts Education's Junior Theatre production of this beloved family classic. 32 young performers between the ages of 9 and 15 have a ball with Carroll's joyous celebration of zaniness.

Tickets are $11-13. Call 925-943-SHOW or go online to www.dlrca.org for ticket reservations. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr, Walnut Creek.

CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS APR. 29, MAY 6, 13, 20 Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting @ Clayton Community Church 7 - 8 p.m. AA Big Book Study, every Sunday night in the meeting room at Clayton Community Church, 6055 Main Street, Clayton, 673-9060.

MAY 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Kiwanis Club of Walnut Creek 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Meetings every Tues. All are invited to check us out and be our guest for lunch. Massimo’s Ristorante, 1604 Locust St., Walnut Creek. For more information call Sam Totah, 941-1536.

MAY 1 Knights of Columbus @ St. Agnes Church Hall 7:30 p.m. General membership meeting of the Knights of Columbus Concord Council 6038 of Concord and Clayton is the first Tues. of the month. We look forward to seeing our brother Knights there. St. Agnes Church, 3478 Chestnut Street, Concord.

MAY 2 Hearing Loss Assoc. of America @ Walnut Creek Methodist Church 7:30 p.m. The speaker for the Diablo Valley Hearing Loss chapter will be

The Clayton Pioneer’s “Music Notes” columnist

Clayton’s own

Jim Hudak Pianist and Composer For bookings and performances:

Visit our Website www.jhudak.com E-mail jimmydak@pacbell.net Piano CD’s available on his Brainstorm Records label

Call Or Write:

Brainstorm Records P.O. Box 488 Clayton, CA 94517 (925) 673-7293

Chris Ash of the California Telephones for the Hard of Hearing and deaf.

CTAP He will talk about the CAPTEL phones and other systems. Contact Bob at shhhbob@sbcglobal.net with questions. Walnut Creek Methodist Church, Education Building in the rear parking lot at 1543 Sunnyvale Avenue, WC. MAY 3 Sons in Retirement Meeting (SIRS) @ Oakhurst Country Club 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Meetings are the first Thurs. of the month. SIRs is dedicated to promoting the independence and dignity of retired men and has no initiation fees or dues. The only requirement, other than being a man who is retired from his primary employment or career, is attendance at the monthly luncheons. Meetings are the first Thurs. of the month. For more information about joining SIRs, Branch 19, call Al Brunner at 687-0594.

Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Drive, Clayton.

MAY 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Rotary Club of Clayton Valley Concord Sunrise @ Oakhurst 7 a.m. Meets every Thurs. for breakfast and usually features a speaker. www. claytonvalleyrotary.org Chuck Graham 689-7640. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Drive, Clayton.

MAY 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Weights Watchers Weekly Meeting @ Contra Costa Farm Bureau Building 10 a.m.and 5:30 p.m. Weekly Weight Watchers weigh-in and meetings on Thurs. 800-326-8450 x 2023. Contra Costa Farm Bureau, 5554 Clayton Rd., Concord.

MAY 6 Knitting Club @ Concord Library 2 - 4 p.m. Have you noticed that knitting is all the rage? Join the group and get creative. Club meets the first Sun. of the month. 646-5455, Concord Library, 2900 Salvio Street, Concord.

MAY 8, 22 Clayton Valley Woman's Club @ Holy Cross Lutheran Church 9:30 a.m. Regular monthly business meeting starts with coffee; the meeting begins at 10 a.m. CVWC is a non-profit, non-denominational service organization that is open to all women interested in charitable work in the Clayton Valley community. Meetings are held on the second and fourth Tues. of the month. For more information, please call Joyce at 672-3850 or Sheila at 672-7947. Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1092 Alberta Way, Concord.

MAY 9TH Creekside Artists Guild Meeting @ The Clayton Community Library 7p.m. Come and join this unique group of eclectic artists that meet the 2nd Wednesday of each month. If you like, bring your artwork for review...all levels and all artforms are welcome! "We provide an environment for all artists to inspire, create, educate and prosper". Questions? Arlene KikkawaNielsen (925) 673-9777 or akikkawa@ccclib.org Visit our website: www..creeksideartists.org MAY 9 Clayton Valley Garden Club @ Diamond Terrace 7 p.m. The Clayton Valley Garden Club meets the second Wed. of the month. For May, Elaine Billeter, Club and area plant specialist will host a "Tea Garden Party & Informal Flower Show". All are invited to visit the Club's Annual Plant Sale next to the Clayton Museum at the Clayton Historical Society's Clayton Garden Tour April 28 & 29. There will be hundreds of plants and plant decor items for sale that benefit the Club's gardening education programs. Call Jeff at 672-7579 or Barry at 827-9540 for information. Diamond Terrace, 6401 Center Street, Clayton.

BUSINESS & GOVERNMENT MAY 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors Meeting @ County Administration Building 9 a.m. County Board of Supervisors holds regular weekly meetings Tues. mornings. Open to the public. www.co.contra-costa.ca.us 335-1900. County Administration Building, 651 Pine Street, Room 107, Martinez.

MAY 1, 15 Clayton City Council Meeting @ Clayton Community Library 6 p.m. City Council meets on the first and third Tues. of the month. Open to the public. Agendas posted at City Hall, 6000 Heritage Trail. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Rd., Clayton.

MAY 8, 22 Planning Commission Meeting @ Clayton Community Library 7p.m. City of Clayton Planning Commission meets 2nd and 4th Tues. of month. Open to the public. www.ci.clayton.ca.us 673-7304, Clayton Library Community Room, 6125 Clayton Road, Clayton.

SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION MAY 9 Parent Faculty Club Meeting @ Diablo View Middle School 7 p.m. Meeting to be held in the school library. All parents welcome. Diablo View Middle School, 300 Diablo View Lane, Clayton.

MAY 10 Parent Faculty Club Meeting @ Clayton Valley High School 7:00 p.m. Clayton Valley High School Parent-Faculty Club General Meeting will be held in the school Library. For agenda details, contact PFC President Melinda Moore, 672-0930.

Patty Flannery Realtor

Clayton Resident since 1979

serving all your

Real Estate needs Call me

voicemail: 925.975.5255 residence: 925.672.0541 email: granyflany@hotmail.com

April 27, 2007

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Teach your dog to feel at ease in crate

Advertise with the Pioneer 672-0500 Dan

st Photo Conte

(925) 524-0652

Dave

Enter our Cat photo contest - WIN PRIZES check our website for details or call for flier www.DanAndDavesCountryInn.com We offer a pick-up and delivery service for our boarders

Because dogs can be destructive when left unattended, many o wners crate-train their animals. According to Kris Swanson, intake tec hnician at the Animal R escue Foundation, a crate should be a required training tool for all dog o wners.

A “crate” doesn’t have to be the typical larg e plastic container. It can also be a larg e wire cage, kennel or small area of the house partitioned off with baby gates.

The first ste p of crate training is to sho w your dog that the crate can be a sanctuar y and a place where good things happen.

Ask y our dog to enter and exit the crate at will, leaving the door

announces The service of the month for our patients for the month of April

Complimentary Blood Pressure Check offered Monday through Friday from 1 to 4 p.m.

If you are not a patient of Clayton Valley Medical Group and would like to become one, please contact Sue at (925) 6744 x14

1520 Kirker Pass Road, Suite A Clayton, CA

(925) 672-6744

www.robinsranches.com

Specialist in Ranch and Country Properties.

Thinking of selling?

Robin’s Ranches web page gets nearly 8,000 viewings a month

ELENA BICKER

PAWS

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open. You can accomplish this by placing treats in the bac k of the crate or feeding meals inside the crate. This routine should be continued for several days.

After y our dog is comfor table with this routine , place treats in the bac k of the crate and ask your dog to enter. Once the dog is inside, close the door briefly, then open it and allo w the dog to exit. Practice this step for several days.

Pristine Property! Mt. Diablo Views!

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Once y our dog associates the crate with food, he or she will be more amicable to entering the crate. The next time you ask your dog to enter the crate , shut the door and feed yumm y treats, such as hot dogs or cheese. Don’t w alk away, leave your dog in the crate for a minute and then allo w the dog to exit. Continue this training for sev eral w eeks, a couple of times a day.

The final ste p is to create a really delicious , well-stuffed Kong, chock full of delectable treats. The K ong should be so jammed full that it will tak e a while to eat the treats . Place the Kong in the crate and when the dog enters, close the door. Walk away for 30 seconds, then return and remo ve the K ong before the treats are dev oured. Your dog will lear n that while y ou’re away, there will be tasty treats in the crate , but when y ou’re

GARY CARR Special to the Pioneer

ed in large quantities.

Certainly, those who li ve with dogs can recount tales of their pets ingesting these foods with little or no ill effect. My Labrador, Moose, once filched an entire pan of brownies from a counter top and w olfed them do wn. Fortunately, the only result w as his reg aling us with 24 hours of gaseous effluvia.

However, other dogs ha ve

Molly is a li vely and intelligent girl. She will thri ve in an active home with adopters who can pro vide her with guidance and structure. Adopters should have prior experience li ving with terriers or dachshunds.

The adoption fee for Molly is $200 and includes the first six training courses.

Bring everyone who will live with Hug gable or Molly – including any canine family members for dogs – to meet

Walnut Creek, CA

(925) 672-7323 / 550-2383 robin@robinsranches.com

HUGGABLE

4820 Burgundy Drive Oakley, CA

(925) 625-1123 e-mail: contact@robertaclaire.com www.robertaclaire.com

Ask about our Wedding Special

been less fortunate.

Dog lo vers should remember the simple acronym, S.C.O.G.G. – salt, chocolate, onions, garlic, and g rapes – and keep these “people foods” away from your pet.

As for cats, I’ve had dozens, and none of them would touch anything on that list. But, double-cheese pizza? Now, that’s a different story.

Huggable is truly that, huggable. She lo ves pla ying with toys and being the center of attention.

The adoption fee for Huggable is $100.

Kropa Realty

Full Broker Co-operation on all Robin’s Ranches listings

Elena Bicker is the Executi ve Director of Tony La R ussa’s Animal Rescue Foundation. She can be r eached at (925) 256-1ARF (1273)

Huggable and Molly are ARF’s Adoption Stars

For more pictures go to WWW.ROBINSRANCHES.COM

Robin’s Ranches

home, the treats disappear .

Practice this exercise for several weeks.

Going forward, increase the length of time you’re away a nd the dog is left alone in the crate.

Start slo wly with a 30-second period, then g radually increase the time.

Puppies shouldn ’t be left in crates for extended periods of time due to their potty needs. A general r ule of thumb is that puppies should only sta y in crates as many hours as the puppy is months old (three months equals three hours, etc.) and no dog should be contained in a crate long er than eight hours at a time.

Never use the crate as punishment. A crate should be a fun experience for your dog.

Remember S.C.O.G.G. to protect your dog In light of the cur rent problems with contaminated pet food, dog lo vers should remember that certain kinds of “people food” also can be dangerous, even lethal, for dogs.

Salt, chocolate, onions, garlic and grapes can cause serious problems for canines if ingest-

Open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Appointments are available

Are you looking for that perfect horse set-up?

Page A17

MOLLY

them at Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue F oundation, 2890 Mitchell Dri ve, Walnut Creek, during adoption hours: 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday and F riday, Noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Visit www .arf.net or call (925) 256-1ARF for more information.

Would you like to be par t of the heroic team that sa ves the lives of rescued dogs and cats?

Can y ou share y our talents to connect people and animals?

ARF volunteers are making a difference! F or more infor mation see our Web site, www.arf.net, or call (925) 256-1ARF.

Page A18

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

April 27, 2007

Consider life insurance that offers permanent benefits ALLEN LAMPO

FINANCIAL SENSE Will y our life insurance be there when you need it?

Term life insurance , the most common for m of life insurance, expires after a set period of time. If you die during the ter m of coverage, your beneficiary receives a death benefit. If you die after the ter m expires, your beneficiar y

receives nothing.

You can buy another ter m life insurance policy when existing co verage expires , but the older y ou are , the more expensive the premium becomes .

After a cer tain ag e, often 70, term insurance is una vailable because the risk that the insured will die and a death benefit must be paid is so g reat.

Another option is per manent life insurance , which remains in effect as long as y ou pay premiums and do not cancel the policy.

Permanent life , also kno wn as cash-v alue life insurance ,

costs more initially than ter m life, but being per manent isn ’t its only advantage. Other advantages include:

Tax-deferred g rowth from interest or ear nings on the policy’s underlying in vestments (under cur rent tax laws).

The ability to mak e cash withdrawals. Depending on the type of policy and the amount withdra wn, the withdrawals may be tax-free.

However, withdrawals will decrease the policy value and death benefit amount.

contact

Ted Sudderth for a free loan evaluation

(925) 672-5363

The ability to borrow against the cash v alue. Loans and interest on the loans that are not paid back will reduce the cash v alue and the death benefit.

Cash-value life insurance is used for estate planning, for business succession, to fund retirement and many other uses. The y ounger y ou are when y ou purc hase per manent life , the g reater the amount of your premium that g oes to ward building cash value.

See Financial, page A19

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A touch of Napa in Clayton Clayton Mind & Body Connections

At 1007 Oak Street, Clayton

Remember Mother’s Day is coming May 13

Crossword Puzzle ACROSS

1- Slap 6- Lather 10- Feminist Lucretia 14- Slender boat 15- Send forth 16- Once more 17- Hawaiian greeting 18- Comply 19- Motion picture 20- Monster in Greek myth 22- Sullenly ill-humored 24- Earthen pot 25- Pressed

26- Monetary unit of Thailand 30- Greek goddess of the earth 32- 8th month of the Jewish religious calendar 33- Mountain goat 35- Browned sliced bread 40- Beverage of lime juice 42- Recluse 44- Mix dough 45- Competent 47- Mid-month times 48- Type of ranch 50- Hidden

52- Strikes 56- Insult 58- Alberta's home 59- Young pike 64- Islamic call to prayer 65- Penniless 67- Second letter of the Greek alphabet 68- Part of an eye or camera 69- Compare 70- Musical group 71- One hunted 72- Excrete 73- Kill

Massage makes a great gift. Ask about special Mother’s Day gift certificates.

DOWN

Treat Mom for Mother’s Day

1- Swindle 2- Niger neighbor 3- Soon 4- Silver salmon 5- Film comedian and director 6- Capital of South Korea 7- Offense 8- Pass away, perish 9- Hinder 10- Start of something big?

11- Pungent bulb 12- Rigid 13- Coarse wool cloth 21- Chilly 23- To talk, usually in a pompous manner 26- Worm fiber 27- 16th letter of the Hebrew alphabet 28- Domesticated 29- Geographical expanse 31- Skating jump 34- Glass ornament 36- Exclude 37- Helper 38- Type of gun 39- Exam used to measure aptitude or intelligence 41- Summed 43- Bright 46- Made to individual order 49- Good, in a way 51- Biblical beast boat 52- Skin of the upper p art of the head 53- Large drinking bowl 54- Silly 55- Aromatic herb 57- Finds pleasing 60- Recedes 61- Actual 62- Gas burner or Sicilian volcano 63- Gentlewoman 66- Semi

(925) 673-0686 www.mind-and-body-connections.com

Gift Certificates

Acupressure for Health

Acupressure CranioSacral Reiki Call Sharoll Gillbert at (925) 674-0767

La Veranda Café Northern Italian Cuisine in downtown Clayton Fresh soups, salads, antipasti, pizza and pasta Dinner and lunch daily Brunch on Sunday Children’s menu and take out service available

For reservations call (925) 524-0011 6201 CENTER ST. CLAYTON

Robert C. Clark, D.O. 3243 Clayton Rd., Concord

925-969-7530

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April 27, 2007

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page A19

Investigate long-term care insurance before retirement

AMANDA COPENHAVER

SENIOR MOMENTS As people consider retirement, they often worry that they may outli ve their financial resources. Don’t w ait to think about this concer n until retirement rolls around; look at y our

options earlier in life.

According to a Fidelity Investments ar ticle at Health Decisions.org, health care costs are on the rise. They absorb significant quantities of retiree’s savings, and it is estimated that a couple at ag e 65 will need close to $215,000 to co ver future medical costs.

It appears as if there has evolved a necessity to w ork as long as possible in order to secure a substantial financial reserve for future health care costs.

A w orthy solution to offset such adv ersities is to secure long-term care insurance (L TC) as early as possible . There are

many guiding options a vailable to assist someone with their financial future. One impor tant step is seeking advice from financial planning specialists.

Many people ha ve the misconception that Medicare or other for ms of private health insurance will co ver their longterm care needs. Although these programs ma y co ver some aspects of long-term care, usually in relation to skilled nursing, they g enerally do not co ver long-term care or assisted living.

“Long-term care insurance can fit any budg et. It tailors to the needs of each indi vidual,” says Lisa T ruesdell, an ag ent at State F arm in Concord.

“Additionally, it acts as an asset protector. It offers the peace of mind that someone does not need to use all of their retirement sa vings to pa y for their care because of the benefits that most policies grant.

“One impor tant conce pt that the majority are not a ware of is that L TC insurance is not solely for seniors but also for those who ma y ha ve experienced injuries or accidents that have left them in need of assistance with two or more physical arenas,” she adds.

Americans need to protect themselves by making sure they insulate themselv es from the high costs of long-term care. It

will not only protect assets but also help control independence.

The impor tance of LTC insurance was strongly illustrated during a recent visit with Mary S., a resident at Aegis of Concord. Mary bought into a plan nearly 20 years ago, on the advice of her longtime family accountant. She proclaimed that if she hadn’t been prompted by her confidant to look into this matter, she may never have made one of the smartest decisions of her lifetime.

Mary is blessed to ha ve associated herself with a plan that has granted her the opportunity to live in assisted living at the beautiful retirement com-

munity, with all of her costs paid.

People should initiate discussions reg arding L TC plans as early as age 50. As the senior population contin ues to g row and as the bab y boom g eneration approac hes seniorhood, insurance plans ma y become increasingly competiti ve. Don’t postpone insurance preparation until you can no long er qualify for g ood discounts or programs, thus forcing higher prices. Start planning now.

is credited based on cash values, but rates are regularly subject to c hange. Interest typically is close to mark et rates, so retur ns ma y be attractive when rates are rising. The owner can increase or lo wer premiums eac h year, as long as there is sufficient v alue to co ver insurance c harges, fees and expenses.

Variable life. The cash v alue of variable life insurance is invested in the o wner’s choice of separate accounts.

The o wner can in vest in stock and bond subaccounts that ha ve the potential to pro vide higher returns than fix ed-rate accounts. Annual expenses and charges may apply.

Variable uni versal life . This combines features of universal life insurance with v ariable life insurance . As with variable life , the o wner can

make in vestment c hoices from v arious sub-accounts within the policy . The accounts usually pro vide a wide rang e of investment selections. Policy owners can choose in vestments based on their financial g oals and tolerance for risk.

Policy owners usually can transfer funds between sub-accounts several times a year at little or no charge.

based on y our needs and y our budget.

The infor mation pr esented is for informational pur poses only . It is not intended to r eplace the need for independent tax, accounting or le gal review.

Individuals ar e ad vised to seek the counsel of such licensed professionals to review their personal situation.

Financial, from page A18

You ma y recei ve all or par t of the cash value if you cancel your coverage by surrendering y our policy . If you purchase a cash-value policy, be cer tain to review information about fees and surrender c harges with y our insurance agent.

The type of insurance that is best for y ou de pends on your reasons for buying insurance and y our personal circumstances.

If you w ant a simple , relatively inexpensi ve policy to cover y ou only until y our children grow up and are living on their o wn or any other temporar y need, term life ma y be sufficient. If, however, you w ant per manent coverage and tax advantages, or have a special need such as transfer ring w ealth

to your heirs, cash-value life insurance is preferable.

Should y ou deter mine that permanent life best suits your needs, you have several types of policies from which to choose: Whole life . Premiums for a fixed death benefit are guaranteed, but the owner has no control o ver ho w funds are invested. The insurer g enerally in vests the policy’ s cash value in long-ter m, conservative in vestments.

Depending on the policy, the insured may also receive dividends, but they are not guaranteed.

Universal life . Like whole life, the o wner has no control o ver ho w funds are invested. Funds are held in fixed-rate accounts . Interest

Allen Lampo is a r epresentative with the J ohn Hancoc k Financial Network He can be r eached at 6814438 or alampo@jhnetwork.com.

Amanda Copenha ver is Marketing Dir ector for Ae gis of Concord. Send comments or questions to amanda.copenhaver@aegisliving.com

Glasbergen Chuckles

If you c hoose a v ariable or variable universal policy, you will be gi ven a prospectus and can review the perfor mance results of the sub-accounts.

Before making a decision, discuss your financial goals with your insurance ag ent or other adviser. Be certain to review the prospectus or ask about all charges and expenses in volved, including potential sur render charges. Your ag ent should be able to recommend the best fit

Stunning views from ridgeline lot above Marsh Creek Road Keller Ridge $4.4 million 155 Acres 1/4 Sec.

Less than a mile from Clayton’s city limit, this magnificent property climbs 1,500 feet to one of the most spectacular ridgeline one-home building sites in Northern California.Truly a one-of-a-kind property.

Will balance in value a 12,000 to 15,000 square foot luxury mansion. You select the final site details.

Enjoy sweeping views from the ridge about 35 miles westward to Mt.Tamalpais, Marin and Sonoma.To the east are the gentle hills towards San Joaquin Valley and the lights of Tracy.

Imagine your picture window and veranda dance floor with an unobstructed view of the Mt. Diablo Summit Museum Center just a little over three miles away.

The slopes of this property guarantee permanent unobstructed views in all directions.

An additional comparatively modest three acre level building lot at the lower 750’ elevation is included.

"MORNING" side of Mt Diablo

165 Acres $1.65 million by appointment only

Over a quarter-section (165 acres) of rugged, sloped, isolated seclusion with massive varied vegetation and granite outcropping beauty bordering parklands at an affordable price. Zoned Agricultural 2. Needs time, work and challenging development but singularly spectacular could be the successful result.

County Certified for “sale, lease or financing” in year 2006.

Long-standing commitment to community, family and customer service

Martin Easton Realtor

office 925-672-8552 cell 925-381-4679 fax 925-672-3546 email eastonm@ sbcglobal.net

3 Offices Liberty Homes Belleci Realty Tassajara Valley Realty

“My family roots in Clayton go back 115 years”

Page A20

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

April 27, 2007

Music therapy helps autistic boy communicate BEV BRITTON Clayton Pioneer

Ryan Goldman la y bac k on the couc h in his family’ s Oakhurst home and gently shook the ocean dr um, filling the room with the sounds of soothing waves.

A quiet melody w afted in the background as m usic therapist Theresa Src h-Nelson slo wly rubbed the 11-year -old’s feet with a cabasa, a percussion instrument with c hain wrapped around a cylinder . “If you use it on the ner ve endings, that helps you relax,” the therapist says.

Ryan probably needed to calm do wn, what with the Pioneer’s photo shoot inter rupt-

ing the highly str uctured therapy session. The four years of classes have helped the autistic boy overcome some of his sensiti vities and improve his comm unication skills.

Autism is a dev elopmental disability that results from a disorder of the central nervous system. Symptoms include impaired social interaction and comm unication, along with restricted and repetitive interests.

Ryan’s mother , Randi, decided to tr y m usic therapy after Ryan enjo yed listening to m usic during an auditor y processing program at the Listening Center in Walnut Creek. Using made-up songs, Srch-Nelson has helped Ryan make some communication

breakthroughs.

“If something in his life is bad, like sc hool beha vior or he was ag gressive on the bus , she’ll incorporate it into the lesson, ” says Goldman. “And she has gotten answers out of him.”

“If I come out and say, ‘We’re going to talk about this ,’ he will clam up,” Srch-Nelson notes.

For example , Ryan had been unable to explain why he was getting into trouble in the cafeteria at his sc hool, Strandwood Elementary in Pleasant Hill.

Through a song he and Src hNelson created, Ryan rev ealed that one of the kid’ s lunc hes smelled badly and it irritated him.

“He will di vulge infor mation in the song – and then she helps

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

Theresa Srch-Nelson encourages Ryan Goldman during the piano portion of their music therapy at Ryan’s Clayton home on April 18.

Classes bring parents and kids together, musically and parent education materials , lessons lear ned in class can be transferred to the home en vironment. Most of the parents said their c hildren constantly sing at home and mimic the activities in class . Clayton resident Stev e K owalewski and his four-year old son, Alex ha ve taken more than 30 classes from Julia. “We play the CD in the car all the time ,” says Stev e. Alex says his favorite part of the class is the instruments.

“I also see how much parents can c hange,” says J ulia, “recognizing the different w ays in which their c hild lear ns and absorbs infor mation, and discovering the joy of singing with them.”

MusicTogether has classes throughout the area. For more information, visit www .music togetherofConcord.com.

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

Playing and exploring musical instruments is a popular feature of the Music Together class as demonstrated by instructor, Julia McLeod.

JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

Young ones and their parents file into O’Hara’ s Mar tial Arts building on Diablo Street in Clayton, some quietly, others chattering softly . They kno w what’s coming, but they w ait patiently for leader J ulia McLeod to form a circle around her electric keyboard.

About a dozen young kids sit on their parents’ laps (some choose to roam) and the m usic introductions begin. “Hello to Alex, so glad to see y ou,” sings Julia.

Music Together is an international, award-winning music and movement prog ram for infants , toddlers and preschoolers, along with their parents and/or caregivers. The course is designed to bring m usic introduction to all children, not just those who seem to be musically adept.

Julia begins b y singing to each indi vidual c hild and adult and in viting the class to sing along. The rhythm of the song is contagious and soon, everyone is singing and g reeting one another. By the end of the song, it’s apparent that the children adapt to the m usical environment in their own ways.

Joey Roberti likes to wander, but lies quietly to listen to Julia’s Yiddish lullab y on the violin.

Aidan Carter goes with the flow through eac h acti vity. A y oung toddler tak es tw o ste ps away from Mom and then f lies bac k into her arms.

“Everyone is different,” Julia explains, noting that there is no right or wrong w ay to experience the class . “I lo ve seeing children g row and dev elop musically. Even the y oungest babies in class - at 4 or 5 months - can coo in the same k ey as the song they’ve just heard.”

The 45-min ute class alw ays

incorporates new acti vities and includes singing, exploring musical instr uments, dancing with scarves to “Scarborough F aire,” and fun songs lik e a g alloping pony ride with rattles and a circle dance. Of all the ex ercises, the instrument segment seemed to the most popular. All the kids participated, pounding dr ums, shaking a tambourine or ringing bells.

While none of the parents have visions of their c hildren becoming a famous Mozar t, they do enjoy the class and what it has done for their young ones.

“This is exposing m y child to a wide variety of social skills. It’s a fun time ,” says parent Sher ri Roberti.

Since eac h c hild is gi ven a CD of the songs , a songbook

Spring registration IS NOW OPEN

Classes in Clayton!

The award winning music and movement program for children 0-5 and the adults who love them.

Visit MusicTogetherofConcord.com or call Julia McLeod at

925 946 2990 to arrange a free preview.

Give the Gift of Music!

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CTA “offers up some of the best of the period’s sha-booms and do-wahs in the campy Suds.”

-Clayton Pioneer

The Rocking 60’s Musical Soap Opera Starring

Michelle Pond, Nephi Speer, Leah Tandberg-Warren & Elizabeth Tremaine

Performances

Thurs - Sat, 8pm Sat matinees at 2pm Tickets $29, $27 Seniors/students

1277 Boulevard Way, Walnut Creek

(925) 944-0597 www.ctacrossroads.org

him work it out,” says Goldman.

“It has helped him g row and change. He can v erbalize more now about what is upsetting him.”

“His decision-making skills have impro ved,” Srch-Nelson says. “Instead of just being spontaneous, he’ll think about it first.”

Music trig gers brain acti vity, says Src h-Nelson, who has a degree from the Uni versity of Dayton and 26 years of experience as a music therapist.

“Music has str ucture, which brings str ucture to the brain.

Areas of the brain that are not strong can be compensated for ,” she says.

See Music, page A21

Give your kids the experience of a lifetime this summer.

Let them spend a week with our wonderful horses

Summer Day Camps June August Monday-Friday 9 a.m. – 2.p.m.

To register or for more information, call 925-516-5942 or download a registration form at

skylarkequestrian.com 20350 Marsh Creek Road, Brentwood

April 27, 2007

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page A21

Check out beautiful perennials that lo ve the sun

NICOLE HACKETT

GARDEN GIRL Not ev eryone is for tunate enough to have nice shady spots for accessor y perennials . Many Clayton Valley residents deal with full sun and harsh conditions, including wind and soil issues. These elements mak e it tough to personalize y our evergreen base plants.

Considering the price of plants and the effort it tak es to install, it’s g ood to know what g rows w ell in our hot sun and exactly what to expect out of those perennials.

Asters are a common and old-fashioned, daisy-shaped flower. This perennial is herbaceous, meaning that during the winter months the whole plant dies down to the ground.

The beauty of perennials is that the winter w eather, including sev ere frost, will not har m the plants. They are safe in their slumber, waiting for the earth to warm to appear again.

Asters grow in the spring and bloom during the summer. They are tough little guys . When the summer is scorching hot and the subtle blooms of spring ha ve

wilted away, the asters will be standing proud.

Farmington Michaelmas Daisy is a h ybrid of the aster family. This perennial creates dense masses of lilac blooms from J uly through early fall.

Farmington has an upright habit and a concentrated f lower display. Poke this plant in a roc k garden or poolside.

It’s g reat mix ed with Maori Maiden Phor mium. Use the evergreen as the focus , and the Farmington aster as the accessory.

for 2007. This tough, easy-togrow perennial is a simple showstopper. You do not have to be a touchy, hard-to-find plant to become perennial of the year .

Nepeta has been readily available for a number of years, and some gardeners are already familiar with its beauty and benefits.

Look in the planters along Center Street do wntown, under the Chinese Pistac he trees , and you can see another v ariety of Nepeta blooming at this moment. Walker’s Lo w Ne peta reaches

NEPETA WALKER’S LOW

All the asters are equally wonderful, with a soft color palette. Lavender, pink and white make up most of the common findings . Expect 18 to 24 inches of height out of most varieties, with widths of 2-plus feet.

Division ev ery tw o to three years will k eep y our pile of asters looking fresh. Transplant divisions to spread more color around you yard or garden.

Nepeta f aassenii W alker’s Low is the Perennial of the Year

heights of 12 inches and widths of 30 inc hes. It’s ex cellent in a rock g arden, containers or full sun borders.

This perennial has many stems of icy blue foliag e and loads of deep la vender-blue blooms. It will attract hummingbirds, butterflies and bees .

Consider the bee aspect if planting near a swimming pool.

Loropedalum Sizzling Pink is a full-sun lo ving ev ergreen that has pur plish-bronze foliage and blooms in the spring.

In combination with the Ne peta Walker’s Lo w, this plant will complement any garden border.

The contrast of the tw o foliages is thrilling . And considering that the loropedalum is a spring bloomer and the Walker’s Low is a summer through fall bloomer, you ha ve created the perfect border.

All the Nepeta family, including but not limited to the Walker’s Lo w, make ex cellent plantings under roses and spring-blooming trees . Plant Nepeta under any of the red foliage, flowering plums. Again, you can ac hieve contrast in leaf color and extend the bloom time for that area.

Maynight Sa ge happens to be another Perennial of the Year, for 1997.

This pro ven perennial does fabulous in Clayton V alley yards and g ardens.

Perfect pur ple spires top dark green, textured foliag e. This ideal perennial reac hes18 to 24 inches tall and 18 inc hes wide , making Ma ynight Sag e an exceptional garden install.

It can thrive in full sun and is not pic ky about the soil. Use Maynight Sag e anywhere a splash of deep pur ple color is needed. Install as a perennial support for common shrubs like variegated abelia, westringia and hawthorn.

Read the tags and space properly. It would be a pity for any perennial to be co vered up by its evergreen companion.

Pixie Meado w Bright is a newer introduction of the Echinacea family . This cone flower relati ve is a tr ue dw arf, reaching 18 to 20 inches tall and wide. “Adorable, yet indestructi-

PIXIE MEADOW BRIGHT ECHINACEA

ble” should be what the tag’ s description reads.

It’s heat-lo ving and cla y-tolerant, with a touc h of cottage appeal. Pixie will mak e a lo vely install when combined with spring-blooming lavenders, such as the Spanish La vender. The Pixie starts to bloom in June and will car ry its f lower through early fall.

Some others that are w orth mentioning are the Yarrow family members , especially Moonshine, the entire

Gaillardia family and all the Salvias. I w ould need a whole column dev oted entirely to Salvia, because the members are so v ast and almost all thri ve in our Clayton Valley gardens.

After you have installed your structure ev ergreens, take some time to focus on the perennials .

They are a ref lection of you.

Everyone seems to plant the same bushes and trees , so our perennial choices add that touch that makes our yard personal.

If you w ant to see up close what grows around our Cla yton Valley area, attend the Cla yton Valley Gardens T our this w eekend. Tickets are a vailable at our nursery or at the Historical Museum on Saturda y and Sunday. It is nice to see what grows in conditions the same as yours. Have fun.

Nicole is the Garden Girl at R&M Pool, Patio and Garden Contact her with questions, comments or sug gestions at gardengirl@claytonpioneer.com

Music, from page A20 Goldman sees Src h-Nelson as an ally in her effor ts to improve Ryan’s social skills. “She has a w ay – she can handle him so well,” she says. “But she doesn’t let him g et anyway with anything. She expects him to do everything that’s on the list – no shortcuts.”

Through the classes , Ryan has moved from lear ning single notes on the piano to no w playing a song with both hands at once. He concentrates ear nestly while w orking on a song, only briefly distracted as his catc hes sight of his dog Mic ky r unning by the windo w outside . SrchNelson quic kly puts him bac k

on task.

But neither his mother nor his therapist force R yan to pla y piano outside of the sessions .

“To push him to practice right now w ould mak e it something he has to do – and that mak es it more of a threat, ” says Src hNelson.

“This is a long-rang e thing for us ,” Goldman sa ys of the piano lessons. “Say 10 years from now, wouldn’t it be nice if he could find enjo yment in it – or maybe it will help relax him.”

For more infor mation on Srch-Nelson’s music therapy, call 934-2102 or email tsrc h@interline.net.

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Page A22

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

April 27, 2007

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IRONWOOD/WINDMILL CANYON AT OAKHURST COUNTRY CLUB!

Largest Model situated at the top of Dana Hills! with spectacular Mt. Diablo views! 5 bedrooms,

Great “Balustr ol” model! 4 bedrooms plus a den/office, 2.5 baths, approx. 2,355sf, inside laundry & oversized 2 car garage. Tiled entry features soaring ceiling. Sunken living room & formal dining room with upgraded carpet. Gourmet kitchen featuring upgraded maple cabinets, pantry, tile counters, island, & floors. Family room offers a cozy fireplace, media alcove, high ceiling with upgraded ceiling fan. Spacious master suite features a walk-in closet, separate tub, shower & tile floors. Professionally landscaped lot of fers a cement aggregate patio & large lawn area. $775,000

3 full baths, approx. 2,960sf, inside laundry with convenient 2nd floor laundry chute! 3 car garage with drive thru feature! Kitchen features solid slab granite counters with tumbled travertine backsplash, 16” tile floors, pass thru window for outdoor entertaining. Family room with brick fireplace & wet bar. Formal living & dining rooms.

Enormous master suite with postcard perfect Mt. Diablo views! Downstairs bedroom & full bath. Huge private yard features a sparkling in-ground free-form pool, covered brick patio, lush expansive lawn area, roses & mature trees. $875,000 EAGLE PEAK AT OAKHURST COUNTRY CLUB!

Fantastic “McKinley” model!

on a prime view lot overlooking hills, city, valley & beyond! 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, approx. 3,005sf, 2 fireplaces & 3 car garage. Beautifully updated & decorated. New carpet & designer paint colors. Desirable downstairs bedroom & full bath. Formal dining room features Tuscan columns & sweeping views. Step down living room looks out to hills. Gourmet slab granite kitchen with breakfast nook overlooking valley views opens to spacious family room with brick fireplace & granite dry bar . Gracious master suite offers a romantic two-way fireplace & sitting area with sweeping views. Private lot features a deck great for entertaining & enjoying the picture perfect views of hills, city & valley below . $899,000

IRONWOOD/WINDMILL CANYON AT OAKHURST COUNTRY CLUB!

Absolutely Fabulous “Doral” model! 4 bedrooms, plus a downstairs den & upstairs loft, 3 baths, approx. 2,854sf, inside laundry & 2 car garage. Convenient first floor bedroom & full bath.

Upgraded gleaming hardwood floor entry extends into living & dining room featuring a soaring ceiling, wall of windows & French doors to rear yard with views of hills.

Awesome gourmet kitchen boasts 18” tile floors, corian counters & large center island with pendant lighting, all stainless steel appliances including sub-zero & wine fridge, raised panel maple cabinets & pantry with frosted door . Big family room with fireplace & custom maple built-ins & media storage. Spacious master suite with ‘Trex” deck balcony offering views of hills-mountain range-valley & city lights! Lavish master bath boasts extensive use of gorgeous travertine: 12” tile floors, shower, jetted tub surround, counters with dual sinks, curved vanity & 2 walk-in closets! Great professionally landscaped lot features an aggregate trimmed patio, large lush lawn area, lots of trees, flowers, ornamentals & views. $869,000

PEACOCK CREEK AT OAKHURST COUNTRY CLUB!

Exquisite “Belvedere” model on premium view lot! nestled in a quiet court. Decorator ’s

showplace features 5 bedrooms plus a den, 3.5 baths, approx. 4,100sq ft & rare 4-car garage. Downstairs bedroom with full bath. Extensively upgraded throughout featuring 16” tile floors, custom window treatments, ornate lighting fixtures, designer paint, central vacuum & extensive closet or ganizer systems.

Gracious living room with fireplace & dramatic formal dining room. Chef ’s dream gourmet kitchen of fers commercial grade appliances, granite tile counters & island, maple cabinetry & spacious pantry. Enormous great room with impressive two-way granite tile fireplace & walk around bar. Lavish master suite boasts a large “Trex” deck balcony offing sensational views!

Remarkable private oasis lot backs to open space with Mt. Diablo, canyon & ridgeline views & features a spectacular freeform pool with raised spa boasting a stacked stone backdrop featuring a cascading water$1,495,000 fall, custom outdoor kitchen & lush professional landscape.

Mortgage Market Update Conforming $417,000 or less

Jumbo $417,001 and up

30 year, fixed for 3 . . . . . . . .6.25% 30 year, fixed for 5 . . . . . . . .6.25% 30 year, fixed for 7 . . . . . . . .6.25% 30 year, fixed for 10 . . . . . .6.375% 15 year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.0% 30 year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.375%

30 year, fixed for 3 . . . . . . . .6.25% 30 year, fixed for 5 . . . . . . . .6.25% 30 year, fixed for 7 . . . . . . .6.375% 30 year, fixed for 10 . . . . . .6.375% 15 year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.125% 30 year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.5%

Clayton Market Update Provided by George Vujnovich of Better Homes Realty ADDRESS 3607 Coyote Cir 569 Mt. Dell Dr 9 Barcelona Way 215 Round House Pl 1471 Indianhead Cir 633 Mt. Olivet Ct 210 Round House Pl 1209 Buckeye Terrace 1585 N. Mitchell Canyon Rd 1169 Shell Lane 901 Sylvaner Court 927 Arrowhead Terrace 1831 Eagle Peak Ave 974 Tiffin Drive 317 Windmill Canyon Pl 602 Julpun Loop 254 Stranahan Cir 8 Goethals Court 208 Mountaire Parkway 5833 Pine Hollow Road 1124 Peacock Creek Dr 19 Clark Creek Circle 596 Mt. Dell Drive 100 Gold Rush Court 32 Nottingham Circle 407 Grenache Circle

PRICE $525,000 $540,000 $843,000 $605,000 $570,000 $849,000 $622,000 $635,000 $836,000 $509,000 $815,000 $635,000 $750,000 $680,000 $695,000 $610,000 $590,000 $1,169,000 $750,000 $565,000 $1,069,000 $440,000 $575,000 $600,000 $696,360 $765,000

SALE DATE

SF

4/13/07 4/12/07 4/12/07 4/11/07 4/06/07 4/06/07 4/06/07 4/05/07 3/30/07 3/30/07 3/30/07 3/23/07 3/16/07 3/14/07 3/14/07 3/09/07 3/09/07 3/08/07 3/05/07 2/28/07 2/27/07 2/27/07 2/27/07 2/23/07 2/22/07 2/21/07

1,554 1,423 2,324 1,001 1,709 2,261 1,939 1,639 2,015 1,355 2,116 1,991 2,467 1,508 2,053 1,939 1,650 3,069 2,325 1,450 3,307 1,113 1,926 1,597 2,088 2,052

BED/BATH 3/2.5 3/2 4/2.5 3/2.5 3/3 4/2.5 3/2.5 3/2.5 3/2 3/2.5 4/2.5 3/2.5 4/3 3/2 3/2 3/2.5 3/2.5 4/3 4/2 3/2 5/2.5 3/2 4/2.5 3/2 4/2 4/2.5